Best Friends Forever: A Puppy's Tale ( MOM'S CHOICE AWARDS RECIPIENT) Scoopie has just turned four, and she is getting a puppy for her birthday! Scoopie and her new puppy, Sandy, become instant best friends. They play together, eat ice cream, and sleep in the same bed! But when Sandy falls ill, Scoopie is left with endless questions: What’s wrong with Sandy? Will she get better? When will we get to play again? With just one diagnosis, everything changes. Best Friends Forever: A Puppy’s Tale is a tender, heart-warming story about love, loss, and everlasting friendship. It is a wonderful resource for parents and teachers that will help them guide children through the real-life experience of owning, loving, and losing a beloved family pet, and finding the courage to share that love again. "There is something special about the bond that exists between a dog and its owner. The love that's shared lasts forever and there's so much we can learn from these four-legged fur-babies that squirm their way into our hearts. Scoopie gets her first puppy when she turns four. It's a dachshund and she names her Sandy. Scoopie and Sandy do everything together, but when Scoopie and her family move across the country, flying by plane, Sandy is placed in the cargo section of the plane. When the family retrieves Sandy, they notice she is very sick. A visit to the vet reveals that Sandy has epilepsy and she will have seizures for the rest of her life. It's difficult to let Sandy go when the seizures take her life, and it's several years before Scoopie can open her heart to another best friend forever puppy. Portia Y. Clare's picture book story, Best Friends Forever: A Puppy's Tale, is a tender, compassionate story about love and loss. The story is told in simple language so a young reader can follow along and the colorful illustrations help move the story forward. The plot follows young Scoopie's excitement about getting her first puppy and the love that grows as the two bond. Readers will feel the fear and hurt as Scoopie discovers Sandy is sick and will never recover. The author takes care to present the heart-breaking scenes of loss. The way Scoopie stands up for her best friend when she has seizures in front of others also teaches young readers the importance of accepting others in spite of their ailments, disabilities, and differences. This is a beautiful story about the lasting bond between a little girl and her first best friend, followed by another." Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite "When Scoopie receives an adorable puppy for her fourth birthday, she names her Sandy, and they are soon inseparable best friends. After her beloved pet becomes ill, Scoopie feels worried, sad, and confused. She has so many questions and wonders if her little dog will ever get better. In Best Friends Forever: A Puppy's Tale , Portia Y. Clare helps young children navigate unfamiliar emotions associated with caring for a sick pet. This 32-page picture book features lovely illustrations by Lisa Alderson. The story spans several years ranging from Scoopie's fourth birthday through her tenth. It emphasizes the special bond between the girl and her sick pet while teaching children about various emotions, including joy, love, grief, fear, loss, sadness, and acceptance. The story also introduces new vocabulary words like "epilepsy" and "seizures." I particularly like Clare's thoughtful attention to details that add interest to the story. For instance, when Scoopie's family goes out to eat, most children will recognize the name of the fast-food restaurant. Likewise, the page numbers are displayed on tiny paw prints; this is another fun feature that will appeal to little ones. Also, the colorful illustrations greatly enhance the book as a whole. The children's book is exceptionally edited, and there isn't anything I dislike about the poignant story. While I suggest parental discretion due to the topic, I will note that the overall message is not one of sadness. Scoopie models a realistic example of expressing and processing her grief over time. It is my pleasure to rate Best Friends Forever 4 out of 4 stars . The author effectively tackles the sensitive topics of the illness and loss of a pet in an age-appropriate manner. I recommend the book as a therapeutic read for families with young children who have experienced similar circumstances. It is suitable for children between the ages of 3 and 10." Review of Best Friends Forever: A Puppy's Tale Post by Cecilia_L » 24 Mar 2022, 10:32 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Best Friends Forever: A Puppy's Tale" by Portia Y. Clare.] Best Friends Forever: A Puppy's Tale Portia Y. Clare (author) Lisa Alderson (illustrator) Miriam Laundry Publishing Company (2021) ISBN: 9781990107368 "Best Friends Forever: A Puppy's Tale" by Portia Y. Clare is a gentle picture book that follows a little girl, Scoopie, whose parents decide to get her a puppy on