Piper and Mabel

Melanie Shankle writes regularly at The Big Mama blog and is the New York Times bestselling author of four previous books, including Nobody’s Cuter than You. Melanie is a graduate of Texas A&M and loves writing, shopping at Target, checking to see what’s on sale at Anthropologie, and trying to find the lighter side in every situation. Most of all, she loves being the mother of Caroline, the wife of Perry, and the official herder of two wild dogs named Piper and Mabel. The five of them live in San Antonio, Texas.Laura Watkins was often found drawing on wallpaper as a child. There just weren’t enough regular sheets of paper to keep up with the demand! But since graduating with a degree in illustration in 2011, Laura has been very busy and very content to work on books. When she’s not drawing, Laura is usually found riding horses or trying to keep control of her two Irish Setters.

Shankle, best known for her devotional titles for adults, pivots to picture books. Based on the author's own dogs, Piper and Mabel are 'two very wild but very good dogs' who love each other and their humans. When the family begins discussing a trip to the beach, Piper and Mabel eagerly look forward to joining in the family vacation only to discover that they will not be going to the shore. Piper and Mabel are off to Happy Tails Ranch, whose appealing brochure summons visions of spa-like farm fun for the canine companions, even if going with the family would be their first choice. The actual ranch is underwhelming and even scary for the pooches; the food isn't great, they are forced to take baths, and there are no facials to be found, so they decide to make a break for it. Though lost for a time, they sniff their way to safety and back to their family, where they wanted to be all along. It's cute and satisfying, but this ground's been trod many times before. Watkins' soft edges and pastel hues lend a cozy yet energetic aesthetic, reassuring readers that even when Piper and Mabel are lost, all will turn out right in the end ... Family-friendly dog stories will always find eager audiences ... (Picture book. 4-8)