Written by This post is part of a weekly series of synopses of children’s books, written by First Book staff members.
Titus Rules, by Dick King-Smith, illustrated by John Eastwood. Young Titus is the newest to Queen Elizabeth’s family of Welsh corgis — her favorite breed since she was a girl. She has 10 of them! Titus’s mom gives him important tips on how to behave in Windsor Castle. But it turns out Titus has some extraordinary talents of his own: he figures out mysteries, solves burglaries and even saves the day during emergencies. The Queen is so proud of Titus that she acts quite out of character herself. Read this to find out how and to enjoy this charming inside look at the Royal family through the eyes of their puppies. Grades 3-4.
Big Dog Little Dog, by P.D. Eastman. Fred and Ted always do opposite things from each other but have to work together to solve a problem. Grades K-2.
Skellig, by David Almond. Everything is falling apart in Michael’s life. His baby sister is very sick, his family’s new house is in disrepair, and he just can’t bear to go to school. Then one day Michael discovers a strange being in his crumbling garage and sets out to save his new friend. With the help of Mina, the fearless girl next door, Michael learns about the healing powers of love and hope. Grades 5-6.
