In a compelling story, movingly illustrated, the issue of animal abandonment is delivered to life. Maggie, a pregnant lab mix, is left in the back of in her people’s deserted house. Came upon by the realtor, Maggie is delivered to the pound where her puppies are born. When Jeff, a fourth-grader, reads a newspaper story about Maggie’s puppies being adopted at the same time as Maggie isn’t, he learns from his teacher that Maggie will be euthanized if nobody adopts her. This knowledge galvanizes Jeff and his classmates to successfully plan and petition their town council to build an animal shelter. Maggie is given her second chance—taken to the new town shelter, where she is eventually adopted. Maggie’s Second Chance is based on the true story of Texas fourth-graders who founded an animal shelter in their town. The final page offers factual comprehensive information on how to assist abandoned dogs.

Nancy Furstinger, the creator of nearly one hundred books, many about animals, may be an editor at two children’s book publishing houses. She shares her home with three rescued dogs (including Jolly—the real Maggie) and six rescued house rabbits.

Joe Hyatt is the illustrator of Buddy Unchained, an award-winning picture book used in schools and libraries around the country. He has a career painting portraits of dogs that was once inspired by the portrait he made of his yellow Labrador retriever, Nola. Hyatt lives in California with his three rescue dogs, Nola, Turtle, and Holiday.