Sadie’s Big Steal

By: Marla McKenna 
Publisher: Tate Publishing 
Publication Date: March 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63268-744-9
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor 
Review Date: January 26, 2015

What began with Mom’s Big Catch continues in this sweetheart of a book that is both all about a dog, and a source to help dogs in a very positive way.

For those who missed the first tale, kids were introduced to a loving family that includes Mom, Dad, Ashley, Julia, and their dog, Sadie. This was a family all excited about heading to the ballpark one day. Dad had never caught one of those home run balls in the stands, and Ashley wanted to catch one, too – way before she had to reach her father’s “old” age to do it. Readers could almost smell that popcorn, hear that national anthem sung, and listen to the cheers, as the fans made sure to shout-out for their team.

Well, in this new tale, the family is back, yet Sadie is the one who has her heart set on the baseball that sits on top of the mantle. Sadie loves baseball as much as the rest of the family, and she has told her dog friends in the neighborhood that she is devising a plan to steal the ball when the family is asleep so she and the rest of her canine friends can play with it. She also wants to include a new dog in their group, Rosie, that has been seen wandering in the area. Unfortunately, other dogs think Rosie is ‘different,’ and she has no family or friends who care about her. So they think if Sadie were to get caught stealing the baseball, she could blame it on Rosie.

When Sadie overhears a story told by her beloved Julia that night, about a new girl in school who everyone is teasing, yet she really likes her, Sadie begins to change her mind about a great many things.

A lovely story with a sweet message, this second book gives everything there is to give to kids: a wonderful family that supports each other, the always awesome sport of baseball, and a really cool dog that proves things like prejudice, bullying and lying are really bad choices for anyone to make.

It is important to note that partial proceeds from these books go to the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation that is on a mission to rescue the canines of the world and give them a second chance at finding a happy, loving home.

Quill says: Wonderful books for parents to share with their kids. Hopefully, this author will continue to gift readers with more adventures in the future.