"Did you know,' the girl whispers,' that this is my favourite time of day? Being here with you?"
On one side of the fence there is a dog. He is all alone although I guess someone does feed him but he doesn't seem to ever leave that backyard. On the other side of the fence there is a girl.
She pokes her fingers through the fence; then the next day she gives the dog a treat or two; and finally she sits by the fence and reads her book aloud:
"I hope you don't mind ... but I've noticed that no one ever plays with you - and I like reading aloud."
And so together - dog and girl - imagine themselves under the oceans with mermaids and sea treasures; the become sky pirates riding dragons; and magicians with silver wands.
But days are long for the dog until one evening something happens and he finds a way to reach the girl's back door.
Adult readers might find the ending a little improbable, but the 'happily ever after' feeling is sure to delight all young readers.
The 2024 Children's Book Council of Australia slogan is Reading is Magic - here is a perfect book to use when you introduce this idea next year. See inside Everywhere with You here.
Carlie Sorosiak is the author of a terrific middle grade book about dogs:
Carlie Sorosiak also wrote Always, Clementine - I gave that book five stars. I previously talked about Found you by Devon Holzwarth.
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