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Something you’d like to know? Start here!

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In this series, children's author Victoria J. Coe answers readers' most frequently asked questions.

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Use these SEL discussion questions with your class or let them inspire you to create your own.

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Create a Fenway and Hattie Obstacle Course!

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Create a Fenway and Hattie Obstacle Course!

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Reading FENWAY AND HATTIE? Use these questions to talk about perspective (with younger or older students).

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Reading FENWAY AND HATTIE? Use these questions to talk about perspective (with younger or older students).

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Sing the Fenway and Hattie Song with Erin Willis

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Sing the Fenway and Hattie Song with Erin Willis

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0:00 / 1:53•Watch full video

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Fenway and Hattie in the Wild - Official Trailer

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Don't miss Fenway and Hattie on Tucked in Tuesdays with Dr. George!

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NEW! Play Fenway & Hattie Read-Aloud BINGO!

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NEW! Play Fenway & Hattie Read-Aloud BINGO!

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Print & handout these bingo cards to your group of 10 or fewer. Cross off words you hear. First one to 5 in a row wins!

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A. FENWAY AND HATTIE (Putnam 2016)

A dog named Fenway and a girl named Hattie move from their apartment in the city to a home in the suburbs where everything is different. And while they both face problems, you only get Fenway's side of the story because the whole book is told from his point of view. So readers have to figure out what's happening from Hattie's side of things, which I think/hope makes it super fun to read!

FENWAY AND HATTIE AND THE EVIL BUNNY GANG (Putnam 2017)

In this first sequel, both Fenway and Hattie struggle with friendship triangles. And even worse, a neighbor's pet bunny - who may or may not be part of the evil gang who destroyed the garden - threatens to come between THEM!

FENWAY AND HATTIE UP TO NEW TRICKS (Putnam 2018)

Hattie's magician Nana is coming to visit and Hattie wants to learn her own magic tricks to impress her. But when Fenway gets hurt, she starts playing tricks on HIM! Poor Fenway begins to wonder if he can still trust his beloved girl...

FENWAY AND HATTIE IN THE WILD (Putnam 2019)

Fenway and Hattie are excited to go on a group camping trip as part of a back-to-school tradition. But as they meet all the new kids and dogs, they find that some of them are not very nice. And when there's trouble at their campsite, they realize that surviving the wild might be as tough as wanting to fit in.

A. I've always been fascinated by the idea that there are at least two sides to every story. From the time I was in elementary school, I LOVED reading books told from different perspectives or multiple perspectives. It's so cool to realize our own perspective isn't the only one out there and there's no "one way" to make sense of the world.

Having said that, I didn't think I could write a book like that because it would be too hard. But I decided to pursue the idea of writing from a dog's POV when our own dog freaked out as we were moving, and I started to wonder what was going through his mind.

Turns out that my fear about its being too hard was very well-founded! But like my main character, I never give up. Happily, two years and four major rewrites later, the manuscript that became Fenway and Hattie finally emerged.

A. How long is this blog?!

Really, I usually feel like I'm trying to write with both hands tied behind my back. There are SO many things about humans that animals - even those who live with people - don't understand or that wouldn't register with them.

So the challenge is to create scenes that most readers will be able to figure out from clues. It's kind of "show, don't tell" to the extreme.

And then, all the usual elements of writing fiction still apply - both the animals and humans need to have problems and story arcs along a relatable theme like love, jealousy, trust, or how to be a good friend, and the story needs to come to a satisfying conclusion. It's a lot like making a really complicated puzzle!

A. So many things! I've heard over and over that the Fenway and Hattie books strike a good balance. The stories are so fun and funny and lively that they easily engage those on the younger end of the middle-grade range, while the inference aspect and of course the humor make them appeal to older readers, too.

Plus, kids love dogs. And Fenway's a pretty loveable dog!

A. From the time a story idea sparks to the time it's completely finished, I never stop thinking about it. I do set daily goals for myself and I also like to mix them up. I find that variety stretches my creativity. So sometimes I'll go for a certain number of pages each day; other times I'll set a timer and write for a certain number of minutes.

I also like to bring my laptop on the subway or to places where I know I'll have to wait like airports. It sure makes the time fly!

A. My favorite part of writing is getting to the end. And yes, that's a serious answer! Getting the whole story out of my head and onto the page is an amazing feeling of accomplishment. Plus, it's so gratifying to see my characters end up where they need to end up. I'm like a proud mama!

My favorite part of being an author is visiting elementary schools. So much of writing is solitary - even if I'm writing on a crowded airplane. I just love getting out and connecting with readers, listening to them, feeling their energy - it's always the best day ever. I might get even more out of school visits than the kids do.

A. I have a couple of projects in the works right now. Too early to know if they will become books someday, but I'm working my tail off to make sure it happens!

A. Fenway and Hattie was a Global Read Aloud book in 2017, and I'm always excited to hear that teachers are reading it aloud and having lots of great discussions about POV and inference.

Today, Fenway and Hattie is a popular One School, One Book, and a Read To Them "Sweet Spot" selection. You can find out more at ReadToThem.org, and if you do choose my little pup for a community read, please let me know!

Many teachers and librarians have asked me if Fenway and Hattie is coming out in Spanish, and now I can finally say YES! It will be published in paperback by Penguin on 12/31/19 and is available for preorder now. All the info is posted at victoriajcoe.com/news.

Almost everything you could ever want as well as many things you didn't know you wanted can be found at www.victoriajcoe.com, and on the Fenway and Hattie resource padlet, padlet.com/victoriajcoe/FenwayAndHattieResources. Seriously! There's 25-part series of writing videos for all ages, book trailers, activities and games including write about, breakout.edu, and buncee, interviews, podcasts, complete school visit info, a "how-to" for adapting #booksinthekitchen for your classroom using flipgrid, and of course, news and book ordering information.

If we're not already connected, I hope teachers and school librarians will consider staying in touch by signing up for my periodic newsletter where I share news, special offers, secret info, and contests. Last year, two classrooms won the chance to name characters in my new book! Find the sign-up form at: https://bit.ly/2taKLsA

I love hearing from educators, parents, and readers! Aside from my mailing list and victoriajcoe.com, you can find me on twitter or instagram @victoriajcoe, and on my web series with Elly Swartz, #booksinthekitchen at youtube.com/booksinthekitchen. Let me know what you're up to!

I'm so in awe of all the educators and librarians who nurture and inspire kids every day. You are changing lives and making the world a better place. Thank you for allowing me to be part of the great work you do. You are my heroes!

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A. FENWAY AND HATTIE (Putnam 2016) A dog named Fenway and a girl named Hattie move from their apartment in the city to a home in the suburbs where everything is different. And while they both face problems, you only get Fenway's side of the story because the whole book is told from his point of view.

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Have a look at Fenway's campground!

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Have a look at Fenway & Hattie's campsite!

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Watch the cover reveal of Fenway and Hattie in the Wild

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Watch the cover reveal of Fenway and Hattie in the Wild

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Victoria Coe Reveals The Cover Of The Next Fenway and Hattie Book!

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Victoria Coe will reveal the cover of her new book! In fact, it is the next Fenway and Hattie! The Van Meter 2nd graders will be celebrating with her LIVE online and we can hope you can join us for the big cover reveal too.

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My new web series with fabulous author Elly Swartz

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Books in the Kitchen with Elly Swartz & Victoria J. Coe - YouTube

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Books in the Kitchen with Elly Swartz & Victoria J. Coe OUTTAKES from Chapters 1 & 2

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Watch the Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks LivBit

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Watch the Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks LivBit

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Special thanks to Book Activist Oliva Van Ledtje!

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Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks by the INCREDIBLE Victoria Coe

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This is "Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks by the INCREDIBLE Victoria Coe" by TheLivBits on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who...

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Listen to the 1st chapter of FENWAY AND HATTIE AND THE EVIL BUNNY GANG

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Listen to the 1st chapter of FENWAY AND HATTIE AND THE EVIL BUNNY GANG

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Recording an audio or video reading of FENWAY AND HATTIE chapters?

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Recording an audio or video reading of FENWAY AND HATTIE chapters?

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Please follow these important guidelines fro Penguin Young Readers

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Listen to the 1st chapter of FENWAY AND HATTIE

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Listen to the 1st chapter of FENWAY AND HATTIE

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Listen to author Victoria J. Coe read the first chapter of FENWAY AND HATTIE.

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F&H BINGO! A great activity for the whole family!

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F&H BINGO! A great activity for the whole family!

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Courtesy of Warwick School District, PA

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Check out these 10 Fun Facts about Fenway & Hattie from YAYOMG!

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Check out these 10 Fun Facts about Fenway & Hattie from YAYOMG!

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Everyone's favorite Jack Russell terrier Fenway and his BFF Hattie are back and they're up to new tricks! The third book in the series, Fenway and Hattie: Up to New Tricks is now available in bookstores everywhere and the first two books are officially out in paperback. To celebrate, we've got an extra special treat for you guys!

Author Victoria J. Coe has given YAYOMG! an inside look at the series by sharing some fun facts about the books, her writing process, and all the pawsome goodness that goes into bringing the loveable Fenway to life. The book hit shelves yesterday and the trailer debuted on Mr. Shu Reads along with an interview with Victoria, so be sure to check it out!

If you loved meeting Fenway and his best buddy Hattie and cheered for Fenway against the Evil Bunny Gang, now you can get your paws on Fenway's newest adventure! This time, Hattie's learning magic tricks to impress her Nana. But when Fenway gets hurt, she starts playing tricks on HIM. And he begins to wonder if he can still count on his beloved short human. Fenway and Hattie: Up to New Tricks has all the fun and laughter of the first two books. But this one will tug on your heartstrings just a bit harder.

If you've wondered how Fenway got his name or what it's like for a dog to wear a Cone of Doom, we've got answers! Check out these 10 Fun Facts about the Fenway and Hattie series from the author herself, Victoria J. Coe.

10 Fun Facts About Fenway and Hattie:

FACT #1:

Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks began with my wondering what dogs think when we give them medicine. Whenever we try hiding pills or drops in our dog's food, he's always onto us. Sometimes he gives me a suspicious look as if wondering why his trusted Food Lady is suddenly playing tricks on him. Putting Fenway in a similar situation was impossible for me to resist!

My own dog cut his paw once, and while it didn't require stitches, it did result in the Cone of Doom! And just like Fenway, all he wanted to do was lick, lick, lick. We'd be trying to sleep at night and we'd hear slurp, slurp, slurp - even the cone couldn't stop his obsession! Thank goodness, unlike Fenway's paw, Kipper's somehow did not get infected.

FACT #3:

Fenway's experience at the vet's office might seem unbelievable to some readers, but truthfully it was taken directly from real life! My dog Kipper reacts so hysterically from the moment we go in the door (that is, when we actually make it in the door), that he has to be muzzled and sedated even for routine check-ups! For some reason, he thinks that everyone at the vet's office - all those wonderfully kind, gentle, and caring people - are out to get him.

The vet in this book - Spicy Breath - is modeled after a real vet, though not one of ours. The real Spicy Breath lived in our building when I first had the idea for this storyline. After I got frustrated trying to do research online (everything I found was all proper, like "what to expect at the vet's office" and "how to care for your dog's injury"), I invited her over for coffee. I pumped her for horror stories, and boy did she ever come through! She had tons of info about things that can go wrong. From that day on, I knew the idea was going to work.

And of course, we can't leave Hattie out of the fun facts about this book! I've always wanted to write a story where Hattie's nana came to visit. The hard part was figuring out how her visit would affect both Hattie and Fenway. It wasn't until I landed on the idea of Nana as a magician and Hattie's thinking Nana expected her to learn magic that I had my abracadabra moment. And when I tossed in Hattie's caring for an ailing Fenway at the same time, it all came together.

FACT #6:

I decided to write as a Jack Russell terrier because that's the closest animal to my own personality. JRTs are as high energy, determined, driven, focused, and enthusiastic as I am!

Fenway is named after Fenway Park, the oldest major league ballpark in the United States and home of the Boston Red Sox. For my character, I wanted to choose a Boston sports name that would be recognized for a long, long time. Fenway Park is over 100 years old!

And speaking of sports names, my own dog Kipper is named after Miikka Kiprusoff, a hockey goaltender who used to play for the Calgary Flames. I can already hear everybody going, "Who?" Well, that's how old my dog Kipper is (really old!). Back in the day, the hockey player Kipper was really famous. He won the Vezina Trophy (best goalie) in 2006.

When I'm writing as Fenway, I actually become a dog - well, at least in my mind. And let me tell you, it's rough! It turns out that chasing squirrels is really exhausting!

Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated with point of view. I love experiencing a story from different vantage points, whether it's multiple POVs or an animal POV or stories like fairy tales that tell the "bad guy's" side of things. There are two sides to every story - at least!

Did you know Victoria's son plays guitar on all her book trailers and even created Fenway and Hattie inspired game? You can play it by visiting her website, here. Now that you've learned everything there is to know about Fenway and Hattie, you've earned a treat! Enjoy this video of Victoria's dog Kipper enjoying a treat of his own.

Love learning Fun Facts about your favorite books? Here are 10 Fun Facts about Howard Wallace, PI: Shadow of a Pug.
Photo Credit: All images courtesy of Victoria J. Coe

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10 Fun Facts About Fenway and Hattie | YAYOMG!

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Everyone's favorite Jack Russell terrier Fenway and his BFF Hattie are back and they're up to new tricks! The third book in the series, Fenway and Hattie: Up to New Tricks is now available in bookstores everywhere and the first two books are officially out in paperback.

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Watch the fun book trailer for FENWAY AND HATTIE UP TO NEW TRICKS 

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Watch the fun book trailer for FENWAY AND HATTIE UP TO NEW TRICKS 

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Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks Official Book Trailer

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If you loved reading Fenway and Hattie, check out Fenway's latest adventure from Penguin Young Readers! Available Jan. 2, 2018 wherever books are sold.

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The science behind your canine queries and mutt mysteries!

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Play the Fenway & Hattie GAME on a Mac or PC

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Play the Fenway & Hattie GAME on a Mac or PC

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Help Fenway find out what's new in the Dog Park with clues from his doggy point of view

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If you want to play the game offline, you can download the game for Mac or PC with a parent or teacher's permission. This zip file contains 2 items; a game file and a data folder. To play the game, unzip the downloaded file, and pick the location you want to save the game.

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Learn to draw Fenway from this student tutorial

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Learn to draw Fenway from this student tutorial

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Huge thanks to superstar teacher Wendy Wakeman for sharing!

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Watch this amazing student and learn how to draw the character Fenway from Victoria J. Coe's Book, Fenway and Hattie.

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Learn to make Fenway origami from this student tutorial

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Learn to make Fenway origami from this student tutorial

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Many thanks to rockstar teacher Robin Schumacher for sharing!

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Check out The FENWAY AND HATTIE Song lyrics by Matthew Griffin

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Check out The FENWAY AND HATTIE Song lyrics by Matthew Griffin

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Sing The FENWAY AND HATTIE Song by Ottawa teacher Matthew Griffin

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Sing The FENWAY AND HATTIE Song by Ottawa teacher Matthew Griffin

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Thank you Matthew Griffin for your repeat performance!! Chapter 9 of Fenway and Hattie!

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for use in Seesaw

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Fenway and Hattie PNG images for Use in Seesaw 

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Thank you @bhopteacher for the inspiration! Images taken from Fenway and Hattie HyperDoc https://goo.gl/8LUiTV

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Download & print this "I Love the Global Read Aloud" poster for your room!

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Download & print this "I Love the Global Read Aloud" poster for your room!

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Download & print this "Global Read Aloud Starts Today" poster for your classroom door!

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Download & print this "Global Read Aloud Starts Today" poster for your classroom door!

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Planning a class FENWAY AND HATTIE celebration?

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Planning a class FENWAY AND HATTIE celebration?

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Check out these ideas from superstar teacher Mrs. Jamie Wilcox!

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Pet's POV Poetry Activity with Rockstar Poet Laura Shovan

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Pet's POV Poetry Activity with Rockstar Poet Laura Shovan

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Happy Poetry Friday! I took the summer off from blogging and I'm glad to be back with you. This week's host for the Poetry Friday link-up is Michelle Heidenrich Barnes at Today's Little Ditty. Michelle's blogging about the International Day of Peace (September 21) and invites us all to share a poem on the them of peace.

It's been a few years since I blogged about Victoria J. Coe's first middle grade novel, the hilarious Fenway and Hattie. ( Read that post here.)

The charm and humor of the Fenway books ( the third title in the series publishes in January) is their point of view. Narrator Fenway is a rambunctious Jack Russell Terrier who doesn't understand that his back yard isn't a dog park and that slippery floors are not inherently evil. What a great read-aloud for kids.

Now Fenway is going global. Fenway and Hattie is this year's Global Read Aloud for early readers. Congratulations to Victoria! (What is Global Read Aloud? Learn more here.)

And how serendipitous for us that the latest Poetry Friday book from Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell is the newly published Pet Crazy!

Victoria and I decided to go to the dogs - and cats. We put together a poetry writing extension for Fenway and Hattie using my poem from Pet Crazy as a model. Global Read Aloud participants can find more Fenway and Hattie resources at Victoria's Padlet.

Welcome, Victoria!
Fenway and Hattie + Pet Crazy Mini Point of View Lesson A creative writing extension for readers of Fenway and Hattie An invitation from Victoria J. Coe Reading Fenway and Hattie gives students the chance to experience a dog's point of view. Seeing the world from a new point of view is not only fun, but it also shows that our own perspective isn't the only one out there. Two people - or two species - can experience the exact same thing and interpret it very differently. That doesn't mean that one is right and one is wrong. It just means your reality depends on your point of view. Writing from a point of view different from our own is an even more powerful way of realizing there are at least two sides to every story.
Victoria and poet Laura Shovan ( The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary ) have collaborated on a creative writing extension for

In this mini-workshop, students will have their chance to think like a dog, or cat, or parrot as they write a short poem from an animal's point of view. The mentor texts for this extension are Fenway and Hattie , by Victoria J. Coe, and the poem "Lost and Found," by Laura Shovan, from P et Crazy: A Poetry Friday Power Book.

After reading Fenway and Hattie , invite the whole class or small groups to do an analysis. Create a T-chart comparing how animals and humans view one of the following experiences:

Going to the vet

Moving to a new home

Learning to obey

Dinnertime!

Ready to write a poem describing an experience from a pet's point of view? Our model poem is "Lost and Found," by Laura Shovan (from Pet Crazy: A Poetry Friday Power Book ). In this poem, a young cat goes exploring and can't find its way back home.

Lost and Found
By Laura Shovan

I'm a curious cat.
My gray tail twitches.
I chase bird shadows
from lawn to lawn.
But when I sniff
and know I've lost
the scent of home,
I cry a sad song.
Meow! Meow!
Someone find me.
See my collar?
Call that number.
Take me home.

Some suggested "experiences" for young poets to write about include events from Fenway and Hattie:

After students share their writing, Victoria recommends these follow up questions:

What was surprising about thinking like an animal?

What did you learn about the pet's point of view?

How would you describe the same event as a human kid?

Hints and helps from Victoria and Laura:

Kids can brainstorm their poems using a t-chart.

Prompt students to think about their five sense as their chosen animal. What would they hear, smell, and see from the pet's-eye-view?

The goal is to write a poem, but it's fine to draft in prose sentences.

Ordering information:
FENWAY AND HATTIE by Victoria J. Coe is available wherever books are sold, including: Your local independent bookstore , Barnes & Noble , and Amazon .

Victoria J. Coe is the author of Fenway and Hattie, the 2017 Global Read Aloud book for Early Readers, as well as two additional Fenway and Hattie novels. She teaches creative writing to adults in Cambridge, MA. Find her online @victoriajcoe (twitter/IG) and at: www.victoriajcoe.com.

PET CRAZY: A POETRY FRIDAY POWER BOOK , by Sylvia Vardell & Janet Wong, is available at Amazon and Pomelo Books .

Laura Shovan's middle grade novel-in-verse, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, is a NCTE 2017 Notable Verse Novel and won CYBILS and Nerdy Book Club awards for poetry. She is a longtime poet-in-the-schools and the author and editor of three books of poetry for adults. Laura is a contributor to Pet Crazy: A Poetry Friday Power Book , by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. Visit her at: www.laurashovan.com .

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Pet's-Eye View: Writing with GRA's Fenway and Hattie + Pet Crazy

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Happy Poetry Friday! I took the summer off from blogging and I'm glad to be back with you. This week's host for the Poetry Friday link-up is Michelle Heidenrich Barnes at Today's Little Ditty. Michelle's blogging about the International Day of Peace (September 21) and invites us all to share a poem on the them...

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Letter from Victoria J. Coe to Teachers & Families

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Letter from Victoria J. Coe to Teachers & Families

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Check out this OUTSTANDING hyperdoc created by superstar teacher Bobbi Hopkins!

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Check out this OUTSTANDING hyperdoc created by superstar teacher Bobbi Hopkins!

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Rockstar teacher Bobbi Hopkins shows you how to create a medal for Fenway using Google Draw in this video tutorial

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Rockstar teacher Bobbi Hopkins shows you how to create a medal for Fenway using Google Draw in this video tutorial

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Think Fenway deserves a medal? Now you can create one for him!

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Think Fenway deserves a medal? Now you can create one for him!

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Add your medal to this moderated padlet

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Fenway accomplished a lot in the story. What would you give him a medal for and what would it look like?

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How a Dog Actually "Sees" the World through Smell

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How a Dog Actually "Sees" the World through Smell

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Even though smell is the most direct of our senses and the 23,040 breaths we take daily drag in a universe of information - from the danger alert of a burning odor to the sweet nostalgia of an emotionally memorable scent - our olfactory powers are not even mediocre compared to a dog's. The moist, spongy canine nose is merely the gateway into a remarkable master-machine which can detect smells in concentrations one hundred-millionth of what we humans require to smell something, and then transmute them into immensely dimensional and useful information about the world. So magnificent is the dog's olfactory brawn - including the ability to sniff out skin, breast, bladder, and lung cancers with an astounding degree of accuracy and to literally smell fear - that to our primitive human perception it appears like nothing short of magic.

How that neurobiological magic happens is what cognitive scientist Alexandra Horowitz - who heads the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College but has also produced a canon of invaluable insight on how we humans construct our impressions of reality - explains in this short animation from TED-Ed, based on her illuminating book Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know (public library):

In the book - which also gave us the curious psychology of why a raincoat traumatizes your dog - Horowitz delves deeper into the impressive olfactory powers of canines, pointing out that the paltry six million sensory receptor sites in our noses are vastly eclipsed by the two to three hundred million in a dog's nose. Not only do canines have manyfold more of these sophisticated information-processing units but they also have far more genes than we do dedicated to the coding of olfactory cells, as well as more kinds of those cells wired to detect more varieties of smells. Horowitz writes:

We humans tend not to spend a lot of time thinking about smelling. Smells are minor blips in our sensory day compared to the reams of visual information that we take in and obsess over in every moment.

[...]

Not only are we not always smelling, but when we do notice a smell it is usually because it is a good smell, or a bad one: it's rarely just a source of information. We find most odors either alluring or repulsive; few have the neutral character that visual perceptions do... As we see the world, the dog smells it. The dog's universe is a stratum of complex odors. The world of scents is at least as rich as the world of sight.

But at least as remarkable as the dog's olfactory neurocircuitry - and as superior to our primitive human version - is the physical act of sniffing itself:

Few have looked closely at exactly what happens in a sniff. But recently some researchers have used a specialized photographic method that shows air flow in order to detect when, and how, dogs are sniffing... The sniff begins with muscles in the nostrils straining to draw a current of air into them - this allows a large amount of any air-based odorant to enter the nose. At the same time, the air already in the nose has to be displaced. Again, the nostrils quiver slightly to push the present air deeper into the nose, or off through slits in the side of the nose and backward, out the nose and out of the way. In this way, inhaled odors don't need to jostle with the air already in the nose for access to the lining of the nose. Here's why this is particularly special: the photography also reveals that the slight wind generated by the exhale in fact helps to pull more of the new scent in, by creating a current of air over it.

This action is markedly different from human sniffing, with our clumsy "in through one nostril hole, out through the same hole" method. If we want to get a good smell of something, we have to sniff-hyperventilate, inhaling repeatedly without strongly exhaling. Dogs naturally create tiny wind currents in exhalations that hurry the inhalations in. So for dogs, the sniff includes an exhaled component that helps the sniffer smell. This is visible: watch for a small puff of dust rising up from the ground as a dog investigates it with his nose.

Horowitz puts the gaping mismatch of abilities in pause-giving perspective:

We might notice if our coffee's been sweetened with a teaspoon of sugar; a dog can detect a teaspoon of sugar diluted in a million gallons of water: two Olympic-sized pools full.

Inside of a Dog is an endlessly fascinating read in its totality. Complement it with Mary Oliver's impossibly wonderful poems about dogs and this sweet animated ode to what dogs teach us about the meaning of life, then redeem some of your human sensory dignity with the not entirely unimpressive science of how our own sense of smell works.

For more treats from TED-Ed, see the science of why music benefits your brain more than any other activity, how to spot liars, and why bees build perfect hexagons.

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How a Dog Actually "Sees" the World Through Smell

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Even though smell is the most direct of our senses and the 23,040 breaths we take daily drag in a universe of information - from the danger alert of a burning odor to the sweet nostalgia of an emotionally memorable scent - our olfactory powers are not even mediocre compared to a dog's.

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EpicBooks Collection of FENWAY AND HATTIE partner books (for Global Read Aloud 2017)

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EpicBooks Collection of FENWAY AND HATTIE partner books (for Global Read Aloud 2017)

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Collection Created by: Mrs. Hopkins, an Epic! Teacher in New York

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Instantly access 35,000 high-quality books for kids

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The leading digital library for kids offering unlimited access to 35,000 of the best children's books of all time. Sign up for a free 30 day trial to instantly access high-quality online books for kids, ebooks, audio books, quizzes, videos, and more.

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If you haven't read FENWAY AND HATTIE #3, use these clues to guess what happens! 

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If you haven't read FENWAY AND HATTIE #3, use these clues to guess what happens! 

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Get editor Susan Kochan's thoughts on Fenway's unique perspective!

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Get editor Susan Kochan's thoughts on Fenway's unique perspective!

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Welcome to our Staff Pick of the week! Today's recommendation comes from Susan Kochan, an Associate Editorial Director at Putnam. Here, Susan shares what makes Fenway and Hattie the perfect read for fans of Humphrey the Hamster. I'd been looking for a manuscript like Fenway and Hattie for years.

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A little dog with a GIANT personality!

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Look. At. That. Face. That's Fenway, the star (and narrator!) of a hilarious new middle grade book, Fenway and Hattie. Fenway and his family-Food Lady, Fetch Man, and his best-friend-in-the-world, Hattie-move from their city apartment to a new home out in the suburbs. But that's not the only change in Fenway's life.

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Listen to a chat with superstar teacher Corrina Allen

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Today I am honored to welcome Victoria Coe. She is the author of the amazing and fun Fenway & Hattie series which was just picked as one of the 2017 Global Read Aloud choices. We chat about pets, Beverly Cleary's Ribsy, what makes an author visit go smoothly, and lots of other things!

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Leading "A New Place" inference/POV writing activity with students

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Leading "A New Place" inference/POV writing activity with students

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What's it like to be a dog? Listen to this imagination activity

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What's it like to be a dog? Listen to this imagination activity

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FENWAY AND HATTIE classroom connections blog post

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FENWAY AND HATTIE classroom connections blog post

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age range: 8-12
genre: contemporary fiction from a dog's point of view
setting: the suburbs
Victoria J. Coe's website
classroom guide

Readers will relate to Fenway's impulsivity and delight in descriptions from his dog's-eye view. Teachers and adults will appreciate generous sprinklings of rich vocabulary. -School Library Journal

Fenway may not understand Hattie's behavior, but readers looking through his uncomprehending eyes will follow her ups and downs easily as she adjusts to the move. They'll also wince in sympathy as she tries, with mixed success, to train, or even restrain, her barky, hyper, emotional pet. -Booklist

This perky, pet-centered tale takes readers inside the head of Fenway, an energetic and perpetually hopeful Jack Russell terrier with a deep love for food, intense hatred of squirrels, and undying adoration of his "small human," Hattie. . . A fun, fresh frolic that animal-loving kids are sure to enjoy.- Publishers Weekly

Please tell us about your book.
Fenway and Hattie is about a dog named Fenway and his girl Hattie who move from an apartment in the city to a house in the suburbs, where they each struggle with big changes. But you only get Fenway's side of the story, because the whole book is told from his point of view.
What inspired you to write this story?
I was inspired to write this story when my own family experienced a move and our dog was afraid we'd leave him behind. The move was hard on all of us, but I was especially tuned in to my dog's fears and insecurities. As we took long walks together, I noticed how he checked everything out and I started to wonder what was going through his mind. That's how the character of Fenway was born.
Could you share with readers a few interesting tidbits you learned while researching?
I've learned a lot about how dogs experience the world! Here are some interesting tidbits:

Dogs smell! But dogs don't just smell scents; they use their noses to gather information. By smelling, dogs can tell:

What's new vs. what's familiar

If a person or another dog is a male or female

What foods you've eaten

What places you've been

If a scent is faint or strong (that's how dogs tell time)

What you've touched and what's touched you

Dogs can even smell people's feelings

Dogs make sounds, but they primarily communicate by body language. How dogs carry their ears or tails, whether they're panting or baring their teeth, and what posture they assume can tell another dog all kinds of information. And dogs read our body language, too. They know from our bodies how we're feeling and what our intentions are.

Dogs are always studying people. They know our routines - maybe better than we know ourselves! They also pick up on cues, like grabbing the leash comes before going for a walk. Dogs know all of our habits and when something changes, a dog is usually the first to notice!
What are some special challenges associated with writing from a dog's point of view?
Ha! How long is this blog, Caroline? I like to say that writing from a dog's point of view is just like regular writing only with both hands tied behind your back!

Seriously though, since dogs don't understand most human language, I can only write actions, sounds, or observations that a dog would know - I can't rely on human dialogue.

There are so many elements of the human world that dogs don't know. Fenway doesn't know how old Hattie is or what town they live in. And he certainly doesn't know what she does when she's not with him - unless he can see, hear, or smell clues, and he often comes to the wrong conclusion!

For instance, early on in the story, Hattie is packing. Fenway remembers that he's seen her do this before - right before she disappeared and left him alone. And something really terrible must've happened to her because when she came back she smelled like burnt marshmallows and squirrels.
What topics does your book touch upon that would make it a perfect fit for the classroom?
Fenway and Hattie is a perfect mentor text for both point of view and inference. My classroom guide contains both POV activities and exercises as well as a discussion guide for the book - which as you can see from the packing example I just described is a lot of inference!

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Classroom Connections: Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe - Caroline Starr Rose

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age range: 8-12 genre: contemporary fiction from a dog's point of view setting: the suburbs Victoria J. Coe's website classroom guide Readers will relate to Fenway's impulsivity and delight in descriptions from his dog's-eye view. Teachers and adults will appreciate generous sprinklings of rich vocabulary.

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Print out lined dog bone paper for student writing

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Print out lined dog bone paper for student writing

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Print out dog bone paper for student projects

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Print out dog bone paper for student projects

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Have you read FENWAY AND HATTIE? Do you like secrets? Solve these clues & check out Fenway's SECRET PAGE!

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Have you read FENWAY AND HATTIE? Do you like secrets? Solve these clues & check out Fenway's SECRET PAGE!

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The Home Page of Children's Author Victoria J. Coe

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...And only readers who figure out the password can enter!
Now, I'd LOVE to tell you what's on the SECRET PAGE,
but then it wouldn't be a SECRET. RIGHT???
So instead... Here are some clues to help your students
guess the password:

It has something to do with what's on the SECRET PAGE

It is located on Page 5 of FENWAY AND HATTIE

It is the last TWO WORDS of the 1st paragraph: "I warned Hattie that her treats were ____ _______."

It is all lower case, with a space between the TWO WORDS

It has no punctuation

What do you think is on the SECRET PAGE?
What do you think the password is?
When you've got it, click the button below,
enter the password, and ENJOY!!!

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And only readers who figure out the password can enter! Now, I'd LOVE to tell you what's on the SECRET PAGE,but then it wouldn't be a SECRET. RIGHT??? So instead...

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Watch the trailer for the 2nd FENWAY AND HATTIE book - out now!

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Watch the trailer for the 2nd FENWAY AND HATTIE book - out now!

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Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang - Official Book Trailer

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Want more info about A Dog's POV? Check out dog cognition expert Alexandra Horowitz's book for young readers!

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Bring a FENWAY AND HATTIE presentation to your school

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Bring a FENWAY AND HATTIE presentation to your school

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Check out these Dog POV activities on youtube

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Check out these Dog POV activities on youtube

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HOW RIBSY CHANGED MY LIFE (or It All Depends on Your POV)

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HOW RIBSY CHANGED MY LIFE (or It All Depends on Your POV)

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FENWAY AND HATTIE is available from the Scholastic Reading Club!

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FENWAY AND HATTIE is available from the Scholastic Reading Club!

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The FENWAY AND HATTIE Classroom Guide is a great resource for teaching POV

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The FENWAY AND HATTIE Classroom Guide is a great resource for teaching POV

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Classroom Guide to Fenway and Hattie - Sept 2015

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Have you seen the FENWAY AND HATTIE book trailer?

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Have you seen the FENWAY AND HATTIE book trailer?