Sophie and family have moved to Boston. This includes a mom and two Jack Russell terriers.

There’s both good and not so good things about the move. The bad happens when her new classmates make fun of her Vermont overalls. Sophie also worries about a neighbor who hates barking dogs and could file a complaint to have them evicted.

The good part includes not being the only brown kid in the neighborhood anymore and meeting Juno, an older teen next door. Juno’s hard to resist pug named Bonney becomes the focus of the story. The cute dog needs surgery that costs $3000 which neither of them can afford.

But leave it to Sophie and Juno to come up with a plan. They write and illustrate the first newspaper for dogs written by dogs: THE BARKING PUPPY. The challenge is how to sell this newspaper and make enough to pay for Bonney’s surgery.

The first person narration by Sophie is engaging throughout the 33 chapters. Her character is based on a real live Sophie you can meet in this fun video introduction of THE BARKING PUPPY…

Many fun illustrations are included in the book along with a few photos. THE BARKING PUPPY has a perfect cast of diverse characters along with the setting in Jamaica Plain, MA. Young readers may not be familiar with a newspaper, but this tale might motivate them to create their own. THE BARKING PUPPY is a heartwarming story for dog lovers and anyone who has ever had to relocate into a new neighborhood.

PAGES: 248 BOOK BIRTHDAY: April 22, 2025

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR

Lori Lobenstine and her goddaughter, Sophie Canon, have been collaborating on the original Barking Puppy newspaper since Sophie was ten years old. The Barking Puppy is Lori’s first children’s book, and Sophie was her chief creative consultant. Like some of her characters, Lori is a twin, has a dog named Summitt, and lives in Jamaica Plain, MA. She is proud of having been editor-in-chief of her fourth-grade newspaper back in the day. For more on Lori and Sophie’s real life Barking Puppy adventures, check out thebarkingpuppy.com.

Il Sung Na has illustrated several acclaimed books, including Welcome Home, Bear, and My Tree. Currently based in Kansas City, Il Sung spends time teaching illustration courses at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) and working on new books. In his downtime, Il Sung hits the flea markets to expand his collection of old and interesting items, which he then takes home to show off to his wife and small dog.

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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.

It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com

Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.

*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.