Perfect for fans of Frog and Toad, here is a sweet story about kindness by #1 New York Times -bestselling author Katherine Applegate. Doggo likes routine: napping, eating, and more napping. Life is good. Life is good for Pupper, too, even though he worries a lot, about things like giant squirrels. If he were braver, he might even be a hero. Maybe even a hero who can fly! But heroes aren’t afraid of giant squirrels . . . When Doggo and Pupper meet a baby bird who also has worries, they are determined to help. Doggo and Pupper may not know how to fly, but they are very good helpers. Maybe they are even heroes! Doggo and Pupper Save the World continues the joyful new series by beloved author Katherine Applegate, with illustrations by Charlie Alder. Gr 1-3-Applegate's second tale about two canine friends offers early readers another entertaining story about being kind to others. Upon observing a bird, Pupper voices his longing to fly; he likes to picture himself as a superhero in a red suit with yellow boots and flowing cape. One day, a baby bird flies from a nest, leaving its sibling alone. Doggo assures Pupper the fledgling "will fly when he is ready." The two dogs make plans to attend a music concert at the park, but when they arrive, they discover the second baby bird hiding under a bush. Pupper insists they stay close to make sure the fledgling is safe until its mother arrives; they miss the concert, but perform a good deed. Alder's humorous illustrations, created from a mix of collage and digital techniques, include Doggo lying on a bench with his legs crossed at the ankles; Cat snacking on Goldfish crackers; and Doggo's ability to use the TV remote control and willingness to teach Pupper to play the drums. The book concludes with "Pupper's Guide to Being a Hero," which lists 10 codes of conduct, including "Be helpful," "Imagine how others feel," and "Listen well." Pupper learns that while giving assistance to those in need may not always look flashy, it can still make one feel like a superhero. VERDICT A number of attractive features, including cartoon illustrations, seven short chapters, numbered pages, and being part of a series will entice early readers. A first purchase for libraries.-Maryann H. Owenα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "Applegate’s second tale about two canine friends offers early readers another entertaining story about being kind to others. ... will entice early readers." ―S chool Library Journal, starred review "The doggie duo make a welcome return...[delivering] a wonderful message about patience, kindness, and selflessness. Doggo and Pupper may not actually save the world here, but they do offer up a lovely reading experience for emergent readers through simple, dialogue-laden prose that beginning readers should be able to master readily. Charming and utterly delightful. " ― Kirkus Reviews , starred review Praise for Doggo and Pupper: A winning new series." ― Booklist, starred review " Applegate’s simple text and Alder’s comedic cartoons come together like a short animated film, just right for amusing early readers." ― Publishers Weekly Katherine Applegate is the #1 New York Times -bestselling author of beloved and award-winning books for young readers, including Odder, Home of the Brave, Crenshaw, Wishtree , Willodeen, and The One and Only Ivan , for which she won the Newbery Medal. She is also the author of the Animorphs series, and a beginning reader series, Doggo and Pupper, illustrated by Charlie Alder. Katherine Applegate lives in Southern California with her family. Charlie Alder has been illustrating for over seven years, including Chicken Break written by Cate Berry. She is particularly well-known for her young and tween girl book cover design and illustrations. Before that, she was Art Director for a popular women's weekly magazine. Some of Charlie's publishing clients include American Girl, Egmont, Hachette, Hinkler, Macmillan, Penguin, Random House, and Scholastic. She lives in England with her family.