Books in the Rosco the Rascal series

Rosco the rascally German shepherd has never seen snow before. Now he'll get the chance to romp around in a snow-covered world high in the mountains. But trouble seems to find Rosco wherever he goes. Will his curious nature spoil the weekend for James and Mandy, or will it save the day? This second adventure in the Rosco the Rascal series will keep readers guessing from the start. Fifth grader James and his second grade sister, Mandy, are building snowmen and sled riding down steep hills, enjoying the fresh powder created by an overnight blizzard on their wintry family vacation. Amidst the fun, they don't realize that a coyote pup, lost and frightened, has been poking around their cabin in the snow, although they've uncovered perplexing clues. It's Rosco, with his powerful canine senses, who discovers the identity of the wild creature first, but he can't communicate it to his human pals, so he sets out on his own to make things right. When the kids finally unravel the mystery, it's almost too late to rescue the poor creature, which has become caught in a hunter's trap. It's up to brother and sister to use their wits in a sticky situation, yet trust their rascal-turned-hero dog to help. But will they be able to free the pup and still make it out alive, themselves? This action-packed story works well as a winter read-aloud for educators and parents, alike, with many teachable moments that lend themselves to discussion. Black and white interior illustrations add interest for even the youngest of readers. Realistic characters and detailed descriptions put the reader squarely in the center of the book's mountain top setting, and take the reader on a lively, contemporary, heart-pounding journey. All books in the series are standalone and can be read in any order. Fans of The Magic Tree House series will love this brother and sister pair, and fans of classic, heroic dogs - from Lassie to Beethoven - will love Rosco. *Recommended for children ages 6-10*Grade level K-5th

Brother and sister, James and Mandy, are off to summer camp. Their German shepherd, Rosco, is joining them for a week of archery, canoeing, swimming, and campfires. But while seven-year-old Mandy struggles with homesickness,  ten-year-old James must deal with a prank-playing bunk mate, and Rosco finds trouble with the resident hound at camp.During an unexpected thunderstorm in a game of capture-the-flag, the troublemaker finds himself lost, alone and injured deep inside the forest. Rosco must play the hero and save the boy, but not before he and James teach him a hard-earned lesson about friendship.This action-packed story works well as a read-aloud for educators and parents, alike, with many teachable moments that lend themselves to discussion. Black and white interior illustrations add interest for even the youngest of readers. Realistic characters and detailed descriptions put the reader squarely in the center of the book’s classic summer camp setting, and take the reader on a lively, contemporary, heart-pounding journey.All books in the series are standalone and can be read in any order. Fans of The Magic Tree House series will love this brother and sister pair, and fans of classic, heroic dogs - from Lassie to Beethoven - will love Rosco.*Recommended for children ages 6-10*Grade level K-5th*17 black and white interior illustrations

Brother and sister, ten-year-old James and seven-year-old Mandy, are excited to explore a pumpkin patch with their lively German shepherd, Rosco, on a sunny weekend in September. The day will include hay rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, and a scavenger hunt. But when Rosco and the kids discover a lost and injured child deep inside the corn maze, they need to help him and find their own way out. Things only get worse when two older boys, wearing frightening Halloween masks and scaring younger kids, threaten to ruin the fun. Brother and sister are faced with standing up to the bullies, and the usually playful Rosco gets serious about protecting his people. Will Rosco be able to save the day? Join the kids and their rascally dog in this wholesome family adventure. Recommended for ages 6-10.

While Rosco is usually the troublemaker in the series, this time it's not Rosco who's been making mischief, it's the leprechauns. When Rosco's buddy, Sparks the pug, goes missing, Rosco and the kids set out to find him, embarking on real-life adventures through the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Meanwhile, Mandy thinks the leprechauns have jinxed her with bad luck because she broke with tradition and didn't attempt to lure them in with treasure in a leprechaun trap this year. Will brother and sister be able to restore Mandy's good luck, or will the leprechauns ruin her St. Patrick's Day? Find out in this heartwarming, family adventure, full of ancient Irish magic and contemporary, big-city fun. Recommended for ages 6-10.

A community project in December has resulted in a first place win for James' and Mandy's glimmering, decked-out neighborhood. But now that they've won the contest, the neighbors must pull off a seamless opening night of the famed Holiday Lights Tour, in which hundreds, if not thousands of visitors will come to marvel at the Christmas displays.So, will some petty competition between friends ruin the fun for ten-year-old James? And worse, when Rosco the rascally dog tries to make up for foolish behavior, inadvertently starting an off-the-leash dog rampage across sidewalks and lawns on opening night, will the whole neighborhood's displays be completely destroyed?In addition, James's seven-year-old sister, Mandy, struggles with faulty costume construction at her school train parade that week, resulting in more than just disappointment.Find out if the boys can come together to stop the undisciplined pack of dogs, salvage opening night, and save their friendship, and find out if Mandy can learn to appreciate her independence.A heart-warming, realistic, and contemporary action-packed Christmas adventure, ideal for boys and girls alike.