The underdogs / by Tracey West ; illustrated by Kyla May.

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Title:

The underdogs / by Tracey West ; illustrated by Kyla May.

Author:

West, Tracey, 1965- author.

May, Kyla, illustrator.

ISBN:

9781338732726

Physical Description:

141 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm

Series:

Underdogs ; 1

Underdogs (Series) ; 1.

Abstract:

Welcome to the town of Barksdale, where every dog wants to be the best. Every year, one pup at Barksdale Academy is named Best in Show after the K-9 exams. Nova, Duke, Harley, and Peanut have never won Best in Show. In fact, they've never even passed the exams. But this year, Nova is determined to prove that Underdogs can win! Will the pups make the grade, or are they doomed to be the underdogs forever?

Reading Level:

007-010. Scholastic.

Subject Term:

Dogs -- Agility trials -- Juvenile fiction.

Dogs -- Juvenile fiction.

Contests -- Juvenile fiction.

Dogs -- Agility trials -- Fiction.

Dogs -- Fiction.

Contests -- Fiction.

Chiens -- Concours d'agilité -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

Chiens -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

Concours et compétitions -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

JUVENILE FICTION -- General.

Contests. (OCoLC)fst00876656

Dogs. (OCoLC)fst00896265

Dogs -- Agility trials. (OCoLC)fst00896266

Dogs -- Training -- Fiction.

Dogs -- Behavior -- Fiction.

Dog shows -- Fiction.

Genre:

Children's stories.

JUV002070 FICTION / Animals / Dogs.

JUV019000 FICTION / Humorous Stories.

Animal fiction. (OCoLC)fst01982492

Fiction. (OCoLC)fst01423787

Juvenile works. (OCoLC)fst01411637

Animal fiction.

Added Author:

May, Kyla,

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library	Juvenile Intermediate Book Paperback	120791003005703	J I WES	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

From the writer of the bestselling Dragon Masters series and the illustrator of the bestselling Diary of a Pug series comes a high-energy, illustrated chapter book series about four dogs who learn that being yourself is much more fun than being Best in Show.

Welcome to the town of Barksdale, where the canine residents strive for perfection. Every shopkeeper claims to be the "best groomer" or sell the "best biscuits." And at Barksdale Academy, the pressure is on every year for one pup to be named Best in Show.

Nova, Duke, Harley, and Peanut have never won Best in Show... which is okay with them! But they have to work together to pass their Agility Exam, because either the whole pack passes or the whole pack fails.

Nova has convinced her pals to train, but on her practice course, Duke is afraid to climb the high ramp, Harley keeps chasing squirrels, and Peanut can't make it through the hoops. Nova's not doing much better -- she's so excited she keeps knocking the whole course over!

Will the pups make the grade, or are they doomed to be Underdogs forever?

With black-and-white illustrations on every page and hilarious antics throughout, this series is perfect for readers who are just starting to read chapter books on their own, or for anyone who loves a good underdog story!

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 1--3--Four furred friends, Nova, Peanut, Harley, and Duke, are far from school stars at Barksdale Academy. Each year, the young canines of Barksdale take the K--9 agility test, and each year, these "Underdogs" are outshined by their high-performing classmates. But this year will be different, according to Nova. She is determined to get her ragtag team to the top. Nova has her work cut out for her, as each of the underdogs has to overcome a unique challenge--Nova's lack of coordination, Peanut's mess aversion, Harley's squirrel distractibility, and Duke's fear of heights. Not only do the plucky pups have personal obstacles to surmount, they endure teasing and embarrassment at the paws of their more agile classmates. After many valiant tries and as many flubs, it seems unlikely that the Underdogs will pass the test. Luckily, Nova has an idea that will get her team to the finish line on their own terms. West skillfully tackles creative problem-solving and self-acceptance while depicting school situations that young readers will find familiar. There are some sharply funny moments; fans of Captain Underpants and Aaron Blabey's The Bad Guys may wish for even more. May's quirky and cartoonish depictions of the Barksdale dogs are spot-on. VERDICT This first installment in the "Underdogs" series has promise and appeal. A great fit for most early chapter collections.--Sarah Simpson, Westerville P.L., OH

Kirkus Review

Bucking three years of failed attempts, four neurodiverse pooches set out to pass their first K-9 exam at Barksdale Academy in this series opener. Team Comeback's distractible pups face daunting challenges: Nova's motivated but clumsy; Harley's fast but distractib Duke's powerful but risk averse; mischievous Peanut hates getting his fur muddy. Nova feels their failures keenly, her older sisters having earned Best in Show. With the agility test looming, she creates a team practice course for test prep, ignoring valuable advice from fluffy-but-brainy Athena. Practice goes poorly: Harley abandons her promising start to chase a squirrel; Duke, who can't control his fear of heights, ends in a mud puddle, splashing a horrified Peanut. Discouraged, Nova confides in Granny Goldenfur, famous for her "pup talks." Granny's wise advice includes setting achievable goals instead of comparing oneself to others. Reluctant to relinquish her dream, Nova doubles down on practice sessions. Not all characters with disabilities strugg Ollie, who uses a canine wheelchair, is a Barksdale high achiever. However, Team Comeback's invisible challenges are compounded by inflexible expectations that overvalue and reward compliance with rigid and (for some) unattainable standards, failing to encourage and honor creative accommodation strategies. In an influencer-saturated culture, the message couldn't be more timely: Nurturing diversity involves redefining success. (Finished art not seen.) Laced with pun-filled humor, this high-spirited tale delivers its food for thought refreshingly free of preachiness. (Fiction. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.