Hi! I’m Auggie, the newest shop dog at Parnassus Books. I felt nervous when I first got the job that it would be hard to find my thing here. Winnie’s thing is being the best dressed. Barnabus helps Pete receive all the books in the back. Roxy is the best at making friends. Sparky is the big boss’s dog. What would my thing be? Thank goodness Rae Ann took me under her wing. She helped me discover that I’m a big middle grade reader, and now I help her with the Spark Book Club! As my first official task, I interviewed the authors of our upcoming Spark Book Club selections about their books and, perhaps more importantly, their pets.
The March selection is Ferris by Kate DiCamillo. It’s a barktastic book about a girl named Ferris, a ghost, and her grandmother.
AUGGIE: Kate, what is your favorite thing about Ferris?
KATE DICAMILLO: Auggie, is it shameful to say that I have many favorite things about Ferris? The book makes me laugh. Which I love to do. And also, there is a moment in the book where everyone gathers together around a table for a fabulous meal. And that is one of my favorite things in the world: to be at a table with people I love. And then there’s Boomer. Who is such a good dog. Every story is better if there’s a Boomer in it, right?
AUGGIE: Do you have a pet, Kate? If yes, what is their name and please send a photo.
KD: I have a dog. Her name is Ramona. I will send a picture. In fact, I will send several pictures. Because Ramona has requested that I do so. Woof!
The April selection is The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. It’s a World War II book and woof, it’s full of bravery.
AUGGIE: Do you have a pet, Kim? If yes, what is their name and please send a photo.
KIMBERLY BRUBAKER BRADLEY: Hello, Auggie! So nice to meet you. I’ve always loved the Parnassus shop dogs and I’m delighted you’ve joined them. (I miss Bear. If you’re stepping into his place, you’re filling big shoes.) My dogs Cava (a cavoodle) and Beverly Cleary (a schnoodle) send their love. They’re not bookstore dogs, but they’re excellent writer dogs, always keeping me company while I work. (Bev sometimes insists on helping type. She’s not very good at it.)
In addition to my dogs, I have a cat named Mouse and horses named The Good Ship Sarah (she’s the size of a barge; I just call her Sarah) and Rosalind Franklin (I call her Rosie, though I always feel a little bad about it, since the scientist Rosalind Franklin, for whom my horse is named, hated that nickname.) My daughter’s horse Merlin lives with us too.
AUGGIE: Kim, what is your favorite thing about The Night War?
KB: My favorite part of The Night War is a spoiler! So I can’t tell you. But it’s absolutely something I’ve never done before, and I absolutely love it. It has to do with one of the characters, who is not entirely what they first seem to be.
Thanks, Auggie! Next time I come to Parnassus, I’ll bring you a biscuit. xo Kim
The May selection is The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon. It’s a howling good book about a library of secrets and time travel.
AUGGIE: Kekla, what is your favorite thing about The Secret Library?
KEKLA MAGOON: My favorite thing about The Secret Library is that it’s a time travel adventure. In the book, Dally discovers a library of secrets–every “book” in the library contains the story of someone’s real-life secret. When she opens each book, she travels to another place and time, either to the moment when the secret was
created or a moment when it was revealed to someone new. The Secret Library gives Dally many exciting (and surprising) chances to learn secrets about her friends and family, and ultimately helps her figure out who she wants to be herself. It was a lot of fun to write a time travel story and to go with Dally on her adventures!
AUGGIE: Do you have a pet, Kekla? If yes, what is their name and please send a photo.
KM: I do! This is Jed, who contributes to all of my stories. He is very helpful, especially when I have a manuscript that needs chewing…I mean, editing. Jed gives five meows and a purr to the Spark Book Club!
AUGGIE: Thank you to my new author friends! I love each of these books! The Spark Book Club is barking perfect for readers ages 8 to 12. If that’s you and you’re not a member yet, sign up here!
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