Oh my goodness!!! This is the best book I've read in a long time. I highly recommend this for everyone to read it so they can see what excellent book this is in general and especially for kids. If you need read no other book on this list please, please, PLEASE make sure you read this one! Where to start on a fabulous book like this?

A magicians dog finds a boy that he hopes to teach magic to bring his magician back. Part fantasy part realistic 100% amazing. The boy has a father who is in the Air Force, and naturally wonders why his father would say he loves his family and then leave. Beautifully done to show the heart ache that war can bring to families. However it doesn't linger on that, main focus is learning the magic. In this story anger is what allows the boy to focus to bring magic to the forefront. So there's some excellent lessons on why it's important to stay calm and how anger affects others. He has two sisters who help him maintain his balance. The children are also polite and respectful to their mother while still having feelings and emotions. This is a book that would appeal to boys, middle children, animal lovers, magic lovers, adventure lovers, and reluctant readers. ALSO it's a short read; less than 200 pages. I feel so inadequate to explain how good of a book it was. Just please trust me and read this one. Thank you.