Recommendations based on "Acting Out"

For fans of Warriors and Wings of Fire comes a magical adventure story about a street cat who's mistaken for a wizard’s familiar.“Whether furry, flippered or feathered you’ll be taking a closer look at your family pet.” —Michael Buckley, author of The Sisters Grimm and NERDSWhen Aldwyn, a young alley cat on the run, ducks into a mysterious pet shop, he doesn’t expect his life to change. But that’s exactly what happens when Jack, a young wizard in training, picks Aldwyn to be his magical familiar.Finally off the tough streets, Aldwyn thinks he’s got it made. He just has to convince the other familiars—the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert—that he’s the telekinetic cat he claims to be. But when Jack and two other wizards in training are captured by the evil queen, Aldwyn will have to use all of his street smarts, a few good friends, and a nose for adventure to save the day!This delightful Indie Next pick is beloved by hundreds of thousands of readers and was named to nine state award lists. Don’t miss any of the exciting books in the Familiars series: Secrets of the Crown, Circle of Heroes, and Palace of Dreams.

A fast-paced and exciting read for middle grade fantasy, mystery, and animal buffs. Something strange is happening at the Clarksville City Zoo. Late at night, monkeys are scaling the walls and searching the neighborhood—but what are they looking for?Noah, his sister Megan, and their best friends, Richie and Ella, live next door to the zoo. Megan is the first to notice the puzzling behavior of some of the animals. One day Megan disappears, and her brother and their friends realize it's up to them to find her. Their only choice is to follow a series of clues and sneak into the zoo. But once inside, they discover there's much more to the Clarksville City Zoo than they could ever have guessed...The author originally had the idea for The Secret Zoo when he was nine and wondered what would happen if zoo exhibits had secret doors that allowed kids to go inside—and the animals to come outside. He brings that sense of adventure and excitement to this story, making it a favorite for home and classroom reading along with such middle grade fantasy favorites as The One and Only Ivan.

From one of the most respected figures in the dog rescue community come the harrowing, funny, and inspiring stories of nine incredible dogs that shaped her life. Tia Torres, beloved underdog advocate and star of Animal Planet's hit show Pit Bulls & Parolees, chronicles her roller-coaster life in this heartwarming memoir featuring some of her best-loved dogs. With inimitable honesty and characteristic brashness, Tia captures the spirit and heart of these intelligent and loving canines, while carrying us behind the scenes of her TV show, into the heart of post-Katrina New Orleans, onto the soundstages of Hollywood films, and even to the jungles of Sri Lanka. Tia has devoted her life to shattering the stereotype that pit bulls are dangerous, vicious predators. As the top dog at the Villalobos Rescue Center in New Orleans, the largest pit bull rescue in the United States, she and her team have rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed hundreds of animals that might otherwise have been destroyed. As she puts it, "Most of the stories in this book are about animals (and a few humans) that needed someone to believe in them and a purpose in order to show their true nobility." Each dog Tia writes about here has overcome abuse, trauma, neglect, or just bad luck to become a stalwart, loving companion to Tia and her family. You'll meet Duke, whose intelligence and matinee-idol looks made him a star in movies and music videos; Junkyard Joe, whose single-minded passion for tennis balls was channeled into expertise as a drug-sniffing dog; Bluie, the unswerving protector of Tia's daughter Tania; and a host of other unforgettable canines. My Life Among the Underdogs is above all a love story--one that is sure to grip the heart of anyone who has ever loved a dog.

Girl by day. Cat by night. Ready for adventure! In the fifth book of this popular chapter book series, Kitty, a little girl with catlike superpowers, is on a mission to stop a thief from ruining her town’s annual lantern parade. With dramatic two-color art on every page and an emphasis on friendship, family, building self-confidence, and bravery, Kitty and the Great Lantern Race is perfect for newly independent readers and fans of Rebecca Elliott’s Owl Diaries. Kitty is proud of the lantern she has crafted for Hallam City’s Festival of Light. But just as the parade starts, a series of mysterious burglaries occur in the crowd. Kitty spots a shadowy figure and knows that she must use her catlike superpowers to investigate. Chasing the culprit without the help of her cat crew tests her bravery and superhero skills, but Kitty’s determined to track down the thief before the city’s festival is ruined. Kitty and the Great Lantern Race is the fifth book in a chapter book series about Kitty and her superhero adventures. With a charming main character, loads of cats, and striking two-color art on every page, Kitty is the perfect pick for newly independent readers. Includes fun facts about cats!

In this sequel to Year of the Dog, Pacy has another big year in store for her. The Year of the Dog was a very lucky year: she met her best friend Melody and discovered her true talents. However, the Year of the Rat brings big changes: Pacy must deal with Melody moving to California, find the courage to forge on with her dream of becoming a writer and illustrator, and learn to face some of her own flaws. Pacy encounters prejudice, struggles with acceptance, and must find the beauty in change.Based on the author's childhood adventures, Year of the Rat, features the whimsical black and white illustrations and the hilarious and touching anecdotes that helped Year of the Dog earn rave reviews and satisfied readers.

**The follow-up to the smash-hit Sunday Times bestseller, Alfie the Doorstep Cat. Alfie’s back – and more adventurous than ever!** Edgar Road used to be your typical London street; a road full of people who barely said a word to one another. Then Alfie came along – a big grey ball of fur who changed the lives of every family he met, and brought a community together. But now a new family have moved into Edgar Road and they, more than anyone else, need Alfie’s help. Can he bring light to their darkest times? Or is it already too late to stop them from falling apart? Warm, uplifting and inspiring, this is a book to remind us how a pet can change a life. The perfect read for fans of A Street Cat Named Bob. If you loved this, don’t miss Alfie’s other adventures in Alfie the Doorstep Cat, Alfie and George, Alfie the Holiday Cat, Alfie in the Snow and A Friend Called Alfie.

Neil and Emily are in New York to visit old friends and their dog Delilah, but the news that the Mets baseball team has lost their famous mascot has them hooked. Can they find the missing mut?

Lost pets are in luck with Andi, Tristan, and Natalie on the case. Orchard Park's premier pet detective team is always hot on the trail! The Combined efforts of Andi and her friends fuel the search for Lola, and their compassion for all animals inspires the Pet Finders Club to keep every pet in Orchard Park safe.

It's bad enough when Hank accidentally gets trapped in a cattle trailer and ends up stranded in town. Then he gets picked up by the local dog catcher and locked in a cage. But just when it looks like things couldn't get any worse, Hank meets up with Dogpound Ralph and the two dogs break free and strike out on the adventure of a lifetime. Suddenly, life just couldn't be any better. Or could it? "The best family entertainment in years." -USA Today.

Sunita Patel is book smart and good with cats. When a hurricane approaches, Sunita realizes that Lucy, a diabetic cat with a broken leg, is in danger, along with her owner, Mrs. Clark. When the vets are called out on emergency, the evacuation starts. Will Sunita be able to save Lucy or will she be a scaredy-cat?