A Special Gift - by Bob Benson & Josie Safir & Nathan Safir (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

When Rosie showed up as a stray on Max's doorstep one morning, Max knew they would be best friends for life. What he didn't know was that his new dog had a very special gift. A Special Gift is perfect for 6-10 year olds looking for an exciting story with age-appropriate content.

This book stresses the importance of open communication, appreciation of diversity and selfless friendship. More about the plot A Special Gift is set in rural Kansas. It features Max, a young boy in the second grade, his parents and his diverse group of friends.

It also centers on Max's adopted dog, who Max finds outside his door on a cold rainy day. He soon begins to form a special bond with his new dog, Rosie. Max first learns Rosie is special while playing basketball in his driveway; Rosie could dribble the ball with her paw! Max even trains Rosie to shoot the ball at a lowered basket, flinging the ball with her front legs. We soon learn, however, that this is not Rosie's most important "special gift." Rather, she has a mysterious ability to warn children about dangerous situations.

Rosie first uses this ability to warn Max that he was about to get hit by a car while chasing the basketball into the street. When Max tries to tell his parents that Rosie must have warned him, they do not believe him. Will anyone believe him? This is the first of many times that Rosie will showcase her special gift. As Max and Rosie help more people, more questions arise about Max's ability to detect danger. Will others ever come to understand that it is Rosie's gift, not Max's?

A great first chapter book Read this book to learn more about the adventures of Max and Rosie. We have specifically designed our story to be interesting and engaging, yet simple enough for early readers to enjoy. With concise chapters and a captivating plot, it will be hard to put this book down! Will Max ever get anyone to believe in the powers of his incredible best friend?

A note from the author: My greatest joy is creating with my grandchildren. In 2010, I proposed to my two grandchildren, Josie and Nathan, that we write a children's book on the topic of their choosing. We saw a need for early learners to have more enjoyable reading materials to develop a lifetime love of books. We set out to author a concise story kids would never want to stop reading! After many brainstorming sessions, we began writing this book about a unique dog who communicates with humans, but only under very special circumstances. I was excited to see my grandchildren as enthusiastic about this endeavor as when we had started our greeting cards company. During that time, they learned the processes of a functioning business.

While writing this book together, we learned so much about the many puzzle pieces required to write, illustrate, and publish this book for you! Each step along the way was borne out of a passion for and the love of fostering the imaginations of little ones learning to read. Although I wrote their ideas on paper, the creativity and endless revisions were definitely a team effort. This book would not exist without Nathan's and Josie's ideas, energy, perseverance and commitment to the project. After 10 years of hard work and dedication, our book is now ready for young readers. I hope all who read this will learn about the importance of friendship, diversity and communication. Most of all, I hope it motivates you to create something special with those you love the most. - Bob