Case is the only one in his family who has no special talent, but Case has plans to change that. He enters a talent show, a science fair, and a horse show, but fails to make a mark in any events. He is about to give up when he finds a dog, a remarkable dog, and the dog helps Case find his own special talents as a dog trainer as well as his special talent of sharing. ( )

Main character give up found dog which had been trained to a be a service dog. Easy to read ( )

Patterson, Nancy Ruth. The Winner’s Walk. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006

Annotation and recommendation:
Case is determined to get his name in the newspaper just like his other family members. He participates in a science fair, a spring talent competition, and a junior horse show but something always goes wrong and he loses. At the junior horse show, Case hurts himself falling off his horse. While recuperating from his accident, he finds a lost dog; he names the dog, Noah. Because of this dog’s special talents helping handicap people, Case finds himself a winner. The dog, Noah is entered in a dog show and he wins. Case with Noah are photographed for the newspapers. Case finally gets his wish. However, the previous owners of the lost dog contact the family. The story introduces a new character Meg Woodson who is confined to a wheelchair. Case meets the Woodson family and learns why his dog is extraordinary. Noah was trained to assist handicap individuals. There are few illustrations within this chapter book and they are significant for telling the story. Ages 10-13 will love reading this easy chapter book about a young man named Case Callahan who learns that when one door of opportunity closes another will open someplace else. Recommended for Level 2 readers because the text is easy to understand the sequence of events as it occurs in the story.

Extension:
Essay question-Would you recommend this book to a friend? Explain your reasons why you would or would not do it?

The Winner's Walk by Nancy Ruth Patterson is another boy meets dog, boy loves dog, boy loses dog story - but with an important twist.

Case Callahan is tired of not being a star. His mom is an actress, his dad trains champion horses and his sister is a star swimmer. But all of Case's attempts at standing out fall flat. Then Case meets a stray dog whom he names Noah. There is something different about Noah. Have you ever met a dog that can answer the phone, or put dishes in the dishwasher? Case assumes his new pet is just unusually smart and trains him for dog agility competitions. No big surprise, Case and Noah win first place and get their picture in the paper. That's when the trouble starts.

As you may have figured out, Noah is no ordinary dog. He is a trained service dog and once his picture is in the paper, the owners (who live several hours away) place a call to Case's family. Mr. Woodson invites Case for a visit, to meet his wheelchair bound daughter and her new service dog, Gabriel. Case goes and learns how much Meg depends on her companion and that many other people are waiting for service dogs. Case leaves the Woodson's house knowing that Noah can do so many more "tricks" than he ever thought possible and is sure to make Case a star. Case is an all around good kid though, and the knowledge that many people wait years for service dogs weighs heavy on his mind. Case eventually makes the tough decision to give Noah to a person who really needs him - making Case a true star!

This is a very quick read and perfect for a third grade animal lover. I haven't read a story for this age featuring a service dog before, so it stands out in that respect. Despite it's message, the story isn't preachy.I'd recommend this with ease. ( )