Gr. 2 4. The author of numerous books for young readers, Cooper has drawn on stories about a friend's beagle for this entry in the Road to Reading chapter-book series, which is illustrated by Amanda Harvey. Bobby is so shy he can't make friends. When he gets a five-month-old beagle puppy for his birthday, things start to change: he now has a wiggly, loving companion--whose curiosity and enthusiasm won't let him remain an outsider for long. (Reviewed March 15, 2000)

Bobby Quinn is too shy to make new friends, but when he receives a lively beagle puppy for his eighth birthday, she helps him overcome his shyness and make friends--with both an elderly neighbor and kids his own age. The author handles the common childhood situation with a deft touch. Brief chapters and black-and-white line drawings add appeal for new chapter-book readers.

Gr 1-3-Children who are stretching their reading wings will enjoy these short chapter books. In Lucy, Bobby Quinn is a shy child who has no friends until he receives a beagle puppy for his eighth birthday. Named after a favorite baby-sitter who has moved away, Lucy becomes the child's best friend. During a long, hot summer, she helps him develop special relationships with an elderly neighbor, a talkative girl at dog obedience school, and a new boy who is also shy. Bobby's fears of new people and situations are skillfully captured, and the story is entertaining and well plotted. Bobby is an endearing character, and he and his dog are an appealing combination. Ghost Horse also deals with making friends, but with a supernatural touch. When Emily's family moves to a small town, she is unhappy about leaving her friends behind. From her new bedroom window, she spies a ghost horse and, with the help of a classmate, learns more about the fate of "Moonlight" and his owners. While many readers will identify more with the realistic portrayals in Cooper's work, Stanley's story also results in new friendships and provides readers with a bit of a mystery to solve. Welcome additions to any collection in which short chapter books are in demand.-Maura Bresnahan, Shawsheen School, Andover, MA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.