Maybe You Can Teach Some Old Dogs New Tricks! which is what I was thinking this morning when Charlie and I sat down to read Hazel Helps Out (Dog Days) by Dori Hillestad Butler a book I received in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the products you purchase.
For my family there is some books that catch your eye just from the cover of the book before I even open them, and Hazel Helps Out, part of the Dog Days series was one of those books for my family and I’m sure when I share the book with Santa he and the Elves will fill the same way.
Before I share my thoughts on the story let’s talk about that purple cover! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love purple, so this book already had my attention. At the top, you’ll find a dog bone with the words Dog Days. The title, Hazel Helps Out, is easy to spot, and there’s a Dalmatian right on the front. Dalmatians were favorites of both my mom and David M. my nephew, so that little detail brought back some special memories.
I only wish I’d had the chance to get my mom a Dalmatian of her own before she passed away. But the cover doesn’t stop there. There are yellow flowers, a chicken, a pencil, a ball, and a book. There are enough little details to keep you looking for a few minutes before you even turn the first page. And then there’s the story waiting inside!
This book covers the antics of a family, a Doggy Daycare, and Eleven Dogs! Yes, you heard me right 11 dogs and of course Charlie wanted each and everyone of the dogs. If truth is none I wouldn’t have minded having some of them as well and David to. Just not all 11 please.
In the story we meet nine-year-old Hazel and her mom who are facing some big changes. Grandma has been running Dog Days, a dog daycare, on her own for a long time. Now she needs help, although accepting it isn’t something she wants to do. Hazel and her mom arrive for a visit that might become a longer stay.
But first, they have to figure out what’s happening. Grandma isn’t exactly eager to share information about her health or the business, and there are plenty of dogs to keep everyone busy. One dog in particular, Houdini, has a habit of escaping. Meanwhile, Hazel’s elderly dog, Spot, is finding it difficult to keep up with the younger, more energetic dogs.
Hazel also knows Amanda’s children, KC and Jonah, but knowing someone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re friends with them. The adults are keeping secrets, Grandma isn’t telling everyone the truth about her health, and Hazel doesn’t like secrets at all. She wants everyone to work together, young and old.
Can Hazel help bring everyone together? I’m not going to tell you everything that happens because I want you to sit down and read Hazel Helps Out for yourself! Then make sure you share this amazing fun children’s book not only with the children you know but the adults to.
Before I get too far into my thoughts, I have to share something with you. When I read that this was a canine-filled series about a family-run doggy daycare, I immediately thought about Charlie. Oh, my Lord, please don’t tell Charlie that! He’s always looking for a company to start, and we already have three dogs.
I’m having enough trouble keeping up with the ones I have without adding a doggy daycare to the mix! I’m laughing, but if you know Charlie, you know why that thought crossed my mind. Not only that at one time I might have thought a Doggy Daycare would be fun to have.
Theis book is published by Peachtree, and the Kirkus review describes it as an appealing, upbeat tale. I also found plenty of positive reviews, which always makes me happy when I’m discovering a series that is new to our family and I hope it is for yours as well.
Neither Charlie nor I had heard of Dog Days before we received the book, so this was a new adventure for both of us. And the dogs! There are eleven of them to meet, each with a name and personality to discover. Which makes this book so much more fun to read and to share with my friends and family.
Here’s a little look at some of the canine characters:
- Houdini: A mixed-breed dog whose escaping adventures are responsible for some of the story’s funniest moments. His name made me think of the famous escape artist Harry Houdini. I love a good name with a story behind it!
- Poco: A Chihuahua. Since Bear is a Chi_Weenie, you can imagine why this one caught my attention!
- Ringo: Another pup in the canine crew.
- King: A golden retriever.
- Lulu: A corgi, which happens to be David’s all-time favorite kind of dog.
- Spot: Hazel’s Dalmatian. Remember, Dalmatians were favorites of my mom and David, so this dog had a special place in my heart.
- Stella: A Springer Spaniel mix. I like the name Stella, and I think my mother-in-law, Sherry, would like it, too.
- Mouse: A Newfoundland mix. Now, does the name Mouse really fit a Newfoundland mix? I’m not so sure! What do you think?
- Plato: A cocker spaniel belonging to KC and Jonah. My mom had a cocker spaniel named Fred, and a cocker spaniel is a dog I’ve always wanted.
- Thor: A beagle mix. We had a dog named Thor when Charlie was growing up, although our Thor wasn’t a beagle mix. That’s another favorite breed in our family for David.
- Wagner: A chocolate Lab. I already know Charlie is going to love this one!
With eleven dogs in the story, there is plenty to discover, and readers who love animals will have fun getting acquainted with all of them. And no, Charlie, we are not starting a dog daycare! Nor, are we adding any more dogs to the mix David and Charlie you can just pretend the dogs in the book are yours.
One thing I appreciate about Hazel Helps Out is that it is a chapter book. There are twelve chapters, which makes it a nice choice for families who want to work a little reading into their day without feeling as though they have to finish an entire book at once. Making it a perfect addition to our 10 Minute Reading Challenge.
You can read a chapter, enjoy the illustrations, talk about what happened, and come back to the story the next day. Of course, everyone in our family had a favorite chapter. But in the meantime before I share that with you this children’s chapter book would be a great addition to a #Homeschooling class.
Charlie’s favorite chapter was “Meeting the Dogs.” With so many dogs to meet, I can understand why he enjoyed that chapter! My favorite was “Old Friends.” I also liked “We’ve Got This,” because if you want to know the truth, I don’t always have everything figured out. Neither do Charlie and David
. Sometimes we just have to keep going, work together, and trust that we’ll figure things out along the way. And then there’s the last chapter, “Hazel’s Idea.” I won’t spoil it for you, but I enjoyed seeing how Hazel approaches the problems facing her family. David’s favorite chapter was “Dogs, Dogs, Dogs.” I’m lol because that sounds like David! Doesn’t it?
Another thing I appreciated was how easy the book was for us to read. David and Charlie didn’t struggle with the words, and the illustrations help bring the story to life. The pictures give young readers something to look at as they follow Hazel’s adventures. They also help make the book inviting for children who are moving from picture books into chapter books.
I can see this being a good choice for family reading time, independent reading, or a grandparent who wants to sit down and read with the children. And because the story involves a family business, changing relationships, secrets, and learning to work together, there is more to talk about than just the dogs.
Hazel is trying to figure out how to help the people she loves, even when the grown-ups aren’t making things easy. That is something families can understand. As Santa and I load the sleigh for Christmas, I’m always looking for books that might make a child smile and encourage them to spend a little more time reading. Hazel Helps Out is going on our Christmas Gift Guide Wish List for my nieces and nephews who are all ages.
I’m also thinking about my mother-in-law, Sherry. These books would give her something fun to read with the children when they come over to visit. And Charlie? Well, he has already made it clear that he is not giving his copies away! back up Buttercup these are going in Charlie’s tote of keepsakes.
Before we put the books away Charlie can’t wait to share the books with Bradley and Joseph, and I think that says something about how much he enjoyed discovering this new series. If you’re shopping for a young reader who loves dogs, family stories, and a little humor, this is a series worth checking out.
About the Author: Dori Hillestad Butler has wanted to be an author since she was young. She wrote her first novel in sixth grade, partly to see whether she could write a novel and partly to earn extra credit in English class. Her dream of becoming a published author came true in 1997 with The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off. Since then, she has published more than 35 additional books for children.
Her work has appeared on children’s choice award lists in 18 states. Trading Places with Tank Talbott won the Maryland Children’s Choice Award in 2007, and The Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery. Dori has also worked as a ghostwriter for series including Sweet Valley Twins, Unicorn Club, and The Boxcar Children.
Her experience includes writing short stories, plays, and educational materials, reviewing children’s books, and leading writing workshops. She grew up in southern Minnesota and lives in Coralville, Iowa, with her husband, son, dog, and cat. You can learn more about her work at kidswriter.com.
The book lists Hazel Helps Out a U.S. hardcover price of $12.99 and a Canadian price of $17.99. When I checked the Amazon listings, I also saw a hardcover price of $12.99 and a paperback price of $12.34. Prices can change, so check the current listing before purchasing.
If you haven’t had a chance to sit down and read Hazel Helps Out, I hope you will. And when you’re finished, I hope you’ll pick up the other Dog Days book, too. I honestly think these books can be enjoyed as standalone stories, so you don’t necessarily have to read them in a particular order to enjoy meeting the characters.
Now, if you’ll excuse Charlie and me, we’re going to grab a cup of hot chocolate, sit down, and read our books. Then we’re going to pass them back and forth and enjoy discovering what happens next. Because sometimes the best way to spend time together is to find a good book, share a few laughs, and make memories along the way. And who knows? Maybe we’ll discover that old dogs really can learn new tricks!
About the book: Can Hazel find a new home, a place for herself, and a way to contribute to the family doggy daycare business?
Nine-year-old Hazel and her mother are facing some big changes. Grandma has been running Dog Days, a dog day care, all by herself for a long time, but now she needs some help—help that she doesn’t really want to accept. Fortunately, Mom’s best friend Amanda and her kids, KC and Jonah, live nearby. Amanda and Mom dreamed of running the business when they grew up. That time could be coming.
Hazel and Mom arrive for a visit that might turn into a long-term stay. First, they have to figure out what’s going on. It’s hard to get prickly Grandma to tell them anything, about the business or her health. There are a lot of dogs to keep track of, including Houdini, who keeps them on their toes by repeatedly escaping. Hazel knows KC and Jonah, but they aren’t friends—at least not yet. And Hazel’s elderly dog Spot is having a hard time keeping up with the younger, more active dogs.
Mom and Amanda don’t want to tell Grandma about Houdini. Grandma doesn’t want to tell Mom and Amanda the truth about her health. All Hazel knows is that she doesn’t like keeping secrets. If only there was a way to get everyone, young and old, to work together.
Grateful, Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
