My Furry Foster Family series, #1
Author: Debbi Michiko Florence
Illustrator: Melanie Demmer
Publisher: Picture Window Books (August 1, 2019)
Genre: Chapter Book
- Paperback: 72 pages
Description
“T” is for Truman, tricks, and TROUBLE! Truman the black lab might be an older rescue dog, but he’s still got enough mischief beneath his collar to keep eight-year-old Kaita Takano and her animal-fostering family on their toes from morning till night. Chewed through and through, the playfully illustrated, Kaita-narrated chapter book promises plenty of canine fun. (from the publisher)
Thank you Capstone Young Readers, Debbi Michiko Florence, and NetGalley for an ARC.
My Thoughts:
When Dad comes home with a surprise, he immediately captures 8-year-old Kaita’s attention. The Takano family doesn’t have to wait long for their new surprise and guest. They’re going to be a foster family. Truman, a black Lab, is an older pet that acts pretty shy for the first little bit after arriving. However, it doesn’t take long for him to feel comfortable with Ollie, the families dachshund, and the family. Comfortable enough to exhibit some pent up energy and excitement. Oops! The family might be facing some real challenges.
There are four books in the My Furry Foster Family series for 1st – 2nd graders. This book has five chapters and approximately two illustrations in each chapter.
What Concerned Me:
Though I really liked the thought of a series that introduces foster families, I had a concern. At first, Kaita acted like it was going to be near impossible to see Truman go to a forever family, which felt realistic. (Goodness, I’m well beyond 8 year’s old and I think it would pull on my heartstrings.) But for some reason, Kaita did an about-face, was understanding and almost anxious to see Truman go.
It’s one thing to logically understand that Truman needs a forever family, but emotionally it should have been a little harder. But on the flip side, I guess you don’t need kids crying over the book, however, it’s important to point out that being a foster family most likely would be both rewarding and tough.
I have to be honest, I’m not that familiar with chapter books, but I think it would have been nice to have had one more illustration per chapter.
What I Liked Most:
I liked that this story was more about fostering and caring for an animal rather than adopting. The back of the book provides a few discussion questions, activities, and a glossary, which is nice. And as I mentioned earlier, I would like to have seen more of the cute artwork, since it adds quite a bit to the story.
Debbi Michiko Florence, a third generation Japanese American, is a former classroom teacher and zoo educator. Her four-book debut chapter book series is Jasmine Toguchi (Farrar Straus Giroux/2017 and 2018) about a spunky Japanese American 8-year-old girl. Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen was a Junior Library Guild selection, Amazon’s Best Children’s Books of 2017, aBank Street 2018 Best Children’s Books of the Year, on the 2018 Amelia Bloomer List, and on the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) 2018 Choices List (Best of the Year). Jasmine Toguchi Drummer Girl is a 2019 Cybils Award winner, a Junior Library Guild selection, on the CCBC 2019 Choices List, and on the Chicago Public Library’s Best Of list. Debbi is also the author of two early chapter book series, Dorothy and Toto (Picture Window Books/2016) and My Furry Foster Family (Picture Window Books/August 2019).
Click for her backstory and more fun information.
