New Releases by Kate Klimo

Fans of dog stories and the RMS Titanic, take note! This new entry in the Dog Diaries series—based on a true story—is narrated by a pampered Peke that survived the fateful voyage! Sun Yat-Sen—aka Sunny—enjoys the finer things in life. Noble canine companion to globe-trotters Henry and Myra Harper, Sunny doesn't even like to walk, preferring instead to be carried! Sunny and the Harpers are traveling on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic—the biggest, finest ship in the world. So imagine Sunny's horror when he learns he must stay in the Titanic's kennel with eleven other dogs, not in the Harpers' luxurious stateroom! It's . . . unthinkable! But only four days into the voyage, Sunny learns the true meaning of tragedy when, hidden inside Myra's fur coat, he escapes the sinking ship in a lifeboat. Based on a true story, with realistic black-and-white illustrations throughout and a fact-filled appendix that includes information about the RMS Titanic, Pekingese dogs, and more, this is historical fiction for middle graders who don't realize they like historical fiction!

A stray dog's moving tale about life with Abraham Lincoln—our sixteenth American president and a true animal lover! Meet Fido—a "yaller" mutt who was Abraham Lincoln's constant companion and pampered family pet at the time he was elected President. Smart, friendly, and frightened of loud noises, Fido was uniquely positioned to witness American history . . . when he wasn't trying to hide under a piece of furniture! Young readers will hear from Fido about Abraham Lincoln's love for all creatures (great and small), his unique methods of child-rearing, his most famous speeches—including the Emancipation Proclamation—and the tragedy that cut short his life. With realistic black-and-white illustrations throughout and a fact-filled appendix including information about Abraham Lincoln the animal lover, animal cruelty laws, and more, this is historical fiction for middle graders who don't realize they like historical fiction!

Queen Elizabeth II's corgi Susan spills secrets of life in the Royal Family! Gifted to Princess Elizabeth on her 18th birthday, Susan was the cherished companion of the future monarch—even joining the princess on her honeymoon in 1947! Eight years later, she was in attendance when Elizabeth was crowned Queen. How does a Royal Corgi spend her days? What goes on in the Corgi Room in Buckingham Palace? Susan reveals all, along with details about Elizabeth's work as a lorry driver during World War II—where she learned to take apart an engine and put it back together! With realistic back and white illustrations throughout and a fact-filled appendix, this is the kind of historical fiction that reluctant middle-grade readers will bow down to with respect!

Charles Dickens’s Havanese sheds light on the writing of A Christmas Carol in this holiday themed Dog Diaries Special Edition! Like the Spirit of Christmas Past, Timber—aka Tiny Tim—journeys from Victorian England to the present to reveal what life was like for the man who “invented” Christmas! Given as a gift to Dickens during a book tour, small, shaggy, “ridiculous” Timber became the great writer’s constant companion. And whether sitting at Dickens’s feet while the author acted out his stories before writing them down, or entertaining Dickens’s vast litter of ten children before a blazing Yule log, Tiny Tim tells a tale as lively as a holiday jig! With sixteen pages of Dickens-inspired crafts and recipes, this Dog Diaries Special Edition makes the perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. With realistic black-and-white illustrations throughout and a fact-filled appendix, this is the kind of historical fiction that reluctant middle-grade readers beg for!

A dachshund loses a leg and finds his life's calling—as a therapy dog! Scrappy dachshund Rolf von Noodle may be missing a hind leg, but he's got attitude and can-do spirit to spare! If anything, his tripod status gives him something special: real empathy for people overcoming physical challenges. And as his owner Mindy discovers, it makes him an ideal choice to become a therapy dog. With realistic black-and-white illustrations and an appendix that includes photographs and information about the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program, therapy dog training, tripod dogs, and more, this is the kind of fact-based fiction reluctant middle grade readers sit up and beg for!

In this Horse Diaries–meets–Dog Diaries Special Crossover Edition, a horse with a bad reputation meets his match in a no-nonsense fire dog and the biggest, hottest flames Chicago has ever seen! In the 1800s, firefighters needed horses to pull the fire trucks. But horses spook easily and run away from fire—so they needed fire dogs. Cinders is a dappled gray horse with a bad reputation. When he first arrives at the firehouse, he refuses to even enter his stall. But a kind man, his daughter, and a smart dalmatian named Sparky convince him he’s made to be a firehouse horse. Will he learn to brave the flames in time to stand up to the biggest, fiercest, most frightening fire the city has ever faced? Get the dog’s side of the story! Read Dog Diaries Special Edition: Sparky.

In this Dog Diaries–meets–Horse Diaries Special Crossover Edition, a no-nonsense fire dog meets her match in the biggest, hottest flames Chicago has ever seen—and a rescue horse with an attitude! In the 1800s, firefighters used horses to pull fire trucks. But horses spook easily and run away from fire—so they needed fire dogs. And there’s no better fire dog than Sparky. Sparky is so good at her job, she knows when the alarm is going to ring before it even rings! But today is no ordinary day. There’s no choice but to put Cinders—a rescue horse with an attitude—to work at her very first fire, one destined to become one of the greatest disasters of the nineteenth century! With realistic black-and-white illustrations and an appendix including information about dalmatians, the Great Chicago Fire, and more, this is historical fiction for kids who don’t like historical fiction, and a perfect choice for supporting Common Core State Standards. Get the horse’s side of the story! Read Horse Diaries Special Edition: Cinders.

A Step 3 Biography Reader about Theodor Geisel and his transformation from a doodler into the beloved Dr. Seuss. Little Ted Geisel always had a sketchpad and pencil in hand. He was a Boy Scout with a penchant for creating zany creatures. He grew up with a love of books and words from his mother, and his inventor father spawned a wildly imaginative and perfectionist side. It’s no wonder that these qualities led to the beloved work of Dr. Seuss, the Great Doodler. Follow his career as an ad man, political cartoonist, creator of forty-five indelible children’s books, and Pulitzer Prize winner. Not bad for a lifelong doodler! Includes fun facts and several of Dr. Seuss’s original sketches and artwork! Selected as one of the Best Children’s Books of the Year-2017, by the Bank Street College of Education and Children’s Book Committee! Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. For children who are ready to read on their own.

George Washington’s transformation from farmer to Father of Our Country—as told by his dog Sweetlips! Sweetie was the finest foxhound in George Washington’s kennel. But Sweetie’s idyllic days at Mount Vernon were cut short when her master was chosen to represent Virginia at the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia—which he attended with Sweetlips by his side. Follow their journey from the hunt country of Virginia to the battlefields of the Revolutionary War in this meticulously researched, unique historical novel. With realistic black-and-white illustrations by Tim Jessell, an appendix including information about George Washington and the history and breeding of American foxhounds, plus links to the primary source material on which the book is based, this is the kind of historical fiction that dog-loving middle graders—and educators—sit up and beg for!

Perfect for readers who’ve finished Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series but who aren’t quite ready for Harry Potter, this accessible fantasy series is imaginative and adventure-filled! “Funny and wonderfully written. A tall-tale adventure that will grab readers!” —Mary Pope Osborne, author of the Magic Tree House series In The Dragon at the North Pole, Dragon Keepers Jesse and Daisy wake on Christmas morning to a winter wonderland—it snowed overnight! Knowing that their dragon, Emmy, has never seen snow before, they hurry to the barn only to discover that she’s disappeared. She’s left a note behind: “Gone to help Santa.” Santa?! Can it be true? With the help of two pairs of magic snowshoes, Jesse and Daisy visit the North Pole to find out!

A dog's-eye view of the Mayflower voyage and the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Colony! English springer spaniel Dash and his furry friend Mercy--a mastiff--travel with their master, John Goodman, in search of the New World. Taken from the pages of history, this Dog Diary follows the story of the colonists whom we now call Pilgrims, from their sixty-six-day voyage at sea to the celebration of their first harvest with the Wampanoag Indians who become their friends and advisors. With realistic black-and-white illustrations by Tim Jessell and an appendix including information about the Mayflower, Plymouth Colony, springer spaniels, and the primary sources on which the book is based, this is historical fiction that dog-loving middle graders--and educators--can be truly thankful for!

Accompanied by her friends, Malora leaves the safety of Mount Kheiron to confront the dangers of the bush in search of Sky, the stallion who used to lead Malora's herd of horses, and finds herself faced with making choices about her future.

A funny and energetic story perfect for children who love dogs! Meet Twinky the Dinky Dog, whose only problem is that he doesn’t feel dinky at all. With his spunky mix of determination, practice, and bravery, Twinky is about to show the entire town that he is – most definitely – not dinky at all. With engaging characters, easy-to-follow plots, and popular topics, this is an ideal Step 3 reader for children who are ready to begin the exciting journey of reading on their own. PRAISE FOR TWINKY! "Kids will cheer." - Kirkus Reviews "Ideal for those newly comfortable with reading solo." - Booklist

Alone after her village is destroyed by Leatherwings, young Melora and her father's horse, Sky, survive on their own with a herd of wild horses until she finds a new home with a civilization of centaurs.

Born in a puppy mill, Ginger the golden retriever looks back on her life and the various people who have "owned" her. Abruptly separated from her mother, littermates, and the wire cage that was her whole world, Ginger is shuttled from one harrowing situation to another until she finally escapes, living as an outlaw with a pack of wild dogs. But freedom doesn't feel so good once she becomes hungry and cold and sick. Will Ginger ever find a furever family to call her own? With realistic black-and-white illustrations by renowned illustrator Tim Jessel, and an appendix featuring information about puppy mills, breed rescue groups, animal shelters, choosing a pet, and the history of golden retrievers, dog-crazy early middle-grade readers will beg for more!

The Dragon Keeper series bridges the gap between MTH and Eragon or Harry Potter. It is solidly middle grade, accessible, and adventure-filled. In The Dragon in the Volcano, Dragon Keepers Jesse and Daisy, follow their dragon, Emmy, into the Fiery Realms. Intrigue, danger, and lots of crazy characters make the reading fun, as well as the wonderful relationship between the dragon keeper cousins and their dragon.

The Dragon Keeper series bridges the gap between Magic Tree House Merlin Missions and Harry Potter. An original short story (only available electronically!) adds background information to the newest book in this magical middle grade adventure series. It's an exciting adventure featuring Emmy's parents and the origins of the second dragon egg that appears in The Dragon in the Sea (Dragon Keepers #5). Praise for The Dragon in the Sock Drawer: "Funny and wonderfully written--a tall-tale adventure sure to grab young readers."--Mary Pope Osborne "This novel, with its unique and modern twists, is a great addition to the dragon genre for younger readers."--School Library Journal

Jesse and Daisy and their dragon friend, Emmy, try to recover a Thunder Egg from merpeople who stole it from Daisy near the Inn of the Barking Seal, where the cousins are visiting their grandmother Polly.

Dragon keepers Jesse and Daisy need help! Emmy, their rapidly growing dragon, has become a real grouch, saying she's missing "something," and the cousins don't have a clue what that something is. Jesse and Daisy go online to ask Professor Andersson, their favorite dragon expert, for help and end up seeing him being kidnapped! The kidnapper is none other than Sadie Huffington, the girlfriend of their enemy, St. George the Dragon Slayer. She has hatched a wicked scheme to use the professor to both find St. George and capture Emmy. Now the dragon keepers and their dragon must storm Sadie's castle and rescue the professor from the witch and her pack of vicious dog-men! In this third fantasy book in the Dragon Keepers series, Kate Klimo introduces readers to a magical library filled with shelf elves and reveals the secrets of the gigantic red book that Jesse and Daisy discovered in The Dragon in the Sock Drawer. She keeps the action and adventure flying while bringing both heart and imagination to this tale of two kids and a dragon, growing up together. The Dragon Keepers series is perfect for kids who crave books about dragons and magic but are caught betwixt and between—too old for Magic Tree House and not yet ready for Eragon and the Inheritance cycle. Visit www.foundadragon.org.