Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Review: MVP Most Valuable Puppy by ESPN host Mike Greenberg and Stacy Steponate Greenberg


MVP
MOST VALUABLE PUPPY
by ESPN Host Mike Greenberg& Stacy Steponate Greenberg
Illustrated by Bonnie Pang
Simon & Schuster
Picture Book
ages 4 to 8


From New York Times bestselling author and ESPN Television personality Mike Greenberg, host of the new morning talk show Get Up, and his wife Stacy comes a heartwarming, silly tale about a dog and her human pal. And all the authors’ proceeds from this book are going to combat pediatric cancer!

Phoebe is a dog with a pink tail. She lives with her family—the Man in the Box, the Lady who Feeds Her, the Baby, and her sister the Girl with Curly Hair. Phoebe’s favorite time of day is when she and her sister go to the park and play. But today things are a different. Can Phoebe convince her best friend to try something new? And can she show her that sometimes it’s okay not to be perfect?

Phoebe and her sister learn that no matter what happens and no matter how many mistakes you make, your family will always be there for you.

In 2013, Mike and Stacy created the Heidi’s Angels Foundation to fund cancer research. The authors will donate their proceeds from this book to Heidi’s Angels, to help fight pediatric cancer through its support of the V Foundation for Cancer Research.



MY TIDBITS

While this book is wonderful in so far that it raises money for a good cause, it will find a particular home in households with fans of one of the authors, Mike Greenberg.

Phoebe is a sweet dog who loves her family and love to play. One day, she goes with her 'sister', the girl of the family with the curly hair, to the park to try something new. While things are a little tough with odd games like football at first, 'sister' soon runs into a little trouble. Luckily, Phoebe is there to show her the way.

This is a relatively straight forward tale with a white, puffy, cute dog at the center of it. Phoebe loves all those things dogs usually do, and it's fun to get to know her. The way she address the human family members is humorous and sweet. Dog fans are sure to love her from the first moment.

The illustrations are bright and cheery. It's no problem to flip through them and enjoy the story without the words (something especially younger readers will enjoy). 

As the text, it's big and easy to read, making a nice read-a-loud. The vocabulary is just right for the intended audience. While the book doesn't offer anything especially out of the ordinary in the way of plot, it's written well and leaves a sense of fun and warmth. 

All in all, it's an enjoyable read for a good cause. 


And here they are. . .

The Authors. . .
ESPN host Mike Greenberg has been with the network since 1996. Stacy Steponate Greenberg  has spent more than twenty years in the field of luxury travel. They live in New York City and Connecticut, with their two children, and their Australian Labradoodle, Phoebe. In 2013, Mike and Stacy created the Heidi's Angels Foundation to fund cancer research.

The Illustrator. . .
Bonnie Pang is an illustrator and comics artist from Hong Kong. She holds a degree in geography from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a master's degree in fine arts from the Academy of art University. Bonnie loves drawing animals and spreading positive vibes through her art.






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