White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan

A gentle chapter book that explores family emotional issues with a big dose of furry love on the side.

White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan. Margaret K. McElderry, 2013. 128 pages.

 Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 8-10

Recommended For: Ages 7 and up, as a read aloud or independent read

MacLachlan is such a gifted early chapter book writer—her books have just enough depth and just few enough words to make them winners with the middle elementary/newly independent reading crowd. In this book, Zoe’s family rescues Great Pyrenees dogs—hence the “white fur flying” in the title! As you may imagine, this family is a loving, good-natured sort since they’re constantly bringing large dogs into their home and loving on them. One day, a new family moves into the farmhouse up the road, a new family that is very different from Zoe’s boisterous, Great Pyrenees-loving family. This new family needs a bit of rescuing, too, as it turns out, and this time, the dogs go to the rescue as only dogs can.

If you’re a dog-loving family, this is a poignant story to enjoy together. It will bring up some points of discussion regarding how some families operate and cope with emotional tension in their lives.  It is also a great discussion starter for issues of compassion, tenderness, and loving others in their suffering. For another poignant kid/dog story, check out One Dog and His Boy by Ibbotson.

Cautions: none

Overall Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

• Worldview Rating: 4
• Artistic Rating: 4.5

Categories: Chapter Books, Realistic Fiction, Character Values, Life Issues, 4 stars and up
Cover image from Amazon