Dog days /

Third-grader Gavin knows you have to start over whenever you change schools. He has made one new friend so far Richard but there is still so much his new classmates don't know yet, like that he is practically a soccer star and really good at his times tables. Gavin's attempts to fit in are further hampered when he has to spend a week walking his great-aunt Myrtle's Pomeranian so he can pay back his older sister for the snow globe he and Richard broke. How Gavin survives the week despite unwanted attention from the school bully, the undignified picking up of poop, bossy girls, a stolen chew toy, and a lack of snacks makes for a tale of small triumphs. The story is told in the present tense, which gives immediacy to the events; each injustice stings sharper, but so does each triumph feel mightier. Black-and-white spot illustrations break up the text and make this an accessible book for emerging chapter-book readers. While there is some crossover with English's previous Nikki and Deja series, this story belongs to Gavin.--Dean, Kara Copyright 2010 Booklist

English returns to Carver Elementary, the setting of her Nikka and Deja books, in this strong kickoff to her Carver Chronicles series. This time, the protagonist is new student Gavin, whose cool-kid potential (namely his basketball and skateboard skills) is undermined by his family. His parents don't allow him to play "overly violent" video games, and his older sister, Danielle, calls him mortifying nicknames like Gavmeister. Both of these horrors are revealed when Gavin's new friend, Richard, comes over, a visit that ends with the boys accidentally breaking Danielle's prized snow globe. In order to pay back his sister, Gavin earns money by walking his great-aunt Myrtle's cranky and extremely accessorized Pomeranian, Carlotta. English captures Gavin's realistic frustrations on the home front and the social nuances of elementary school life as he struggles to fit in without compromising himself ("Gavin doesn't know if he likes that Deja girl. She reminds him too much of his sister"). Freeman's upbeat spot illustrations and English's accessible storytelling target the book to emerging independent readers. Ages 6-9. Illustrator's agent: Bernadette Szost, Portfolio Solutions. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

English kicks off a new series, set in the same classroom as her Nikki and Deja books, starring Gavin, a new kid at Carver Elementary. Gavin is beginning to fit in, and he has even made a friend, Richard. His eighth-grade sister, Danielle, is annoying, as older sisters often are, but things get especially contentious when Gavin breaks Danielle's snow globe while horsing around with Richard. His parents and visiting great-aunt Myrtle have a plan to help Gavin replace the broken souvenir: he will take Aunt Myrtle's fluffy Pomeranian, Carlotta, for walks to earn cash and learn responsibility. As Gavin faces his dog-sitting chores, readers will nod in understanding when Carlotta proves to be a challenge. Though there are times when the story's pacing is a little slow, readers will identify with this character who is full of good intentions. Freeman's occasional black-and-white illustrations help tie the story together and give readers a picture of the neighborhood and its inhabitants. Chapter book readers have few options if they want to read about urban boys of color; here's hoping for more about Gavin and his friends. robin l. smith (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility. Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin's desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. "After all, it isn't his fault that Danielle's snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn't have been in her room--but then, she shouldn't be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!" opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle's yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener. This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here's hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.