Recommended to me as THE most loved book of all grades (1-5) at a cooperative school my grandson attends. Read it to three other "grands" here, ages 6-11, and they LOVED it! And the fact that it's true, put it over the top.

Luciano Anastasini had been a circus performer from the time he was a child until the day he fell fifty feet from the high wire, ending his days as an acrobat. This is the story of how Luciano got a second chance at a circus career by giving stray dogs a second chance at life. Prepare to be moved and amazed by this heart-warming story! I know I couldn't help but smile. These were dogs on whom everyone had given up. But Luciano was able to see past the surface to the potential in each one. This book is an absolute must for dog lovers, circus lovers, or anyone who enjoys a story about second chances.

I read this story to my two grandkids ages 6 and 4. We all absolutely loved it! It was very touching, and at the same time humorous. I highly recommend it, especially as a read-aloud. There are so many possibilities for discussion.

“Our best selves are sometimes hidden. But what if someone saw us, truly saw us, and believed in the wonders waiting inside of us?” When Luciano Anastasini fell 50 feet from a high wire, his days as a circus acrobat were over. Wishing to stay with the circus, he devised a new act involving some performing four-legged friends: dogs. Not just any dogs would do. Having himself been given a second chance with the circus, Luciano wanted to do the same for his new partners … so he went looking for dogs that no one else wanted. It wasn’t difficult to find 10 of them – all of them scruffy, and all of them unwanted. In each, Luciano could see intelligence, energy, determination and many other positive qualities, whereas other people could only see faults and problems. “No one’s perfect,” he told the dogs, and they went to work. Luciano studied the10 dogs and built his new act around their natural talents and abilities. He believed in them and he worked around their weaknesses. Gradually, he gained their trust and love as they trained together for long hours. In turn, Luciano loved them and treated them with kindness and patience. The result was a new act that was fast-paced, clever and funny. Audiences loved it, and the dogs loved performing. “Luciano Anastasini and his Pound Puppies” became a star act and was hired by the biggest circuses in the business. The new stars crisscrossed the country, performing in show after show. Circuses and animals are favourite topics with kids, and this heart-warming, happy, true-life story, featuring plenty of eye-catching photos of the dogs, and an introduction by Kate DiCamillo (author of Because of Winn-Dixie), will be a sure hit.