Mary Pope Osborne - Dog Heroes

Dear Reader,

Did you know theres a Magic Tree House book for every kid? From those just starting to read chapter books to more experienced readers, Magic Tree House has something for everyone, including science, sports, geography, wildlife, historyand always a bit of mystery and magic!

Happy reading!

When I write Magic Tree House adventures, I love including facts about the times and places Jack and Annie visit. But when readers finish these adventures, I want them to learn even more. So thats why we write a series of nonfiction books that are companions to the fiction titles in the Magic Tree House series. We call these books Fact Trackers because we love to track the facts! Whether were researching dinosaurs, pyramids, Pilgrims, sea monsters, or cobras, were always amazed at how wondrous and surprising the real world is. We want you to experience the same wonder we doso get out your pencils and notebooks and hit the trail with us. You can be a Magic Tree House Fact Tracker, too!

Heres what kids, parents, and teachers have to say about the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers:

They are so good. I cant wait for the next one. All I can say for now is prepare to be amazed! Alexander N.

I have read every Magic Tree House book there is. The [Fact Trackers] are a thrilling way to get more information about the special events in the story. John R.

These are fascinating nonfiction books that enhance the magical time-traveling adventures of Jack and Annie. I love these books, especially American Revolution. I was learning so much, and I didnt even know it! Tori Beth S.

[They] are an excellent behind-the-scenes look at what the [Magic Tree House fiction] has started in your imagination! You cant buy one without the other; they are such a complement to one another. Erika N., mom

Magic Tree House [Fact Trackers] took my children on a journey from Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, to so many significant historical events! The detailed manuals are a remarkable addition to the classic fiction Magic Tree House books we adore! Jenny S., mom

[They] are very useful tools in my classroom, as they allow for students to be part of the planning process. Together, we find facts in the [Fact Trackers] to extend the learning introduced in the fictional companions. Researching and planning classroom activities, such as our class Olympics based on facts found in Ancient Greece and the Olympics, help create a genuine love for learning! Paula H., teacher

Text copyright 2011 by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce

Illustrations copyright 2011 by Sal Murdocca

Cover photograph copyright Jean-Michel Labat/ardea.com

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Random House

Childrens Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Random House and the colophon are registered trademarks and A Stepping Stone Book and the colophon are trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC. Magic Tree House is a registered trademark of Mary Pope Osborne; used under license.

The Magic Tree House Fact Tracker series was formerly known as the Magic Tree House Research Guide series. Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #18 was formerly known as Magic Tree House #46.

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MagicTreeHouse.com

Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at RHTeachersLibrarians.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Osborne, Mary Pope.

Dog heroes / by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce ; illustrated by Sal Murdocca.

p.cm. (Magic tree house fact tracker)

A Stepping Stone book.

ISBN 978-0-375-86012-6 (trade) ISBN 978-0-375-96012-3 (lib. bdg.) ISBN 978-0-307-97554-6 (ebook)

1. DogsJuvenile literature. 2. Animal heroesJuvenile literature.

3. Working dogsJuvenile literature. I. Boyce, Natalie Pope.

II. Murdocca, Sal, ill. III. Title.

SF426.5.O83 2011 636.7dc22 2010046114

Ebook ISBN9780307975546

This book has been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient Leveling System.

Random House Childrens Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

v4.1

a

In celebration of Nan, Barney, Gulley, Isaac,

Shy Dog, Raquel, Teddy, Bailey, Merlin, Lula,

Mr. Bezo, Joey, Little Bear, Pearl, Boola,

Louie, Jasper, Maudie, Baby, Monty, Westy,

Annie, Busby, Nicky, and Chilko

Scientific Consultant:

STANLEY COREN, Ph.D., F.R.S.C., Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia

Education Consultant:

HEIDI JOHNSON, Earth Science and Paleontology, Lowell Junior High School, Bisbee, Arizona

Very special thanks to the Random House team who make it all worthwhile: Gloria Cheng; Mallory Loehr; Chelsea Eberly, our fantastic photo researcher; Sal Murdocca, our superb artist; and as always to our editor, the intrepid Diane Landolf

Dear Readers,

In Dogs in the Dead of Night , we had an adventure with Saint Bernard rescue dogs in the Alps. When we got back home to Frog Creek, we read about how these famous dogs actually rescued people. We had a lot of questions. What did the dogs do when an avalanche struck? How did they find people buried under the snow? How did they keep people alive until help arrived?

To learn the answers, we did a ton of research. Together, we tracked the facts about dog heroes of all kinds, from many times and places! What we found out is in this Fact Tracker book.

We learned that dogs and people have been together for thousands of years. We also learned that dogs have a powerful sense of smell that helps them find people. Dogs sniff a trail to track a scent. We are a little like thatbut we track facts! Instead of sniffing a trail, we research in books and on the Internet. So get your notebooks, get your backpack, and come be a fact tracker with us!