I Have Seven Dogs

Zoe isn’t allowed to have a dog of her own, but fortunately the neighborhood pooches inspire an awesome idea!

It’s an age-old problem—Zoe wants a dog but can’t have one. But that doesn’t stop her from befriending all the dogs in her neighborhood—and appreciating each one’s charms and quirks. She knows which pups give high-fives, enjoy being read to, and love music. And she also knows she’s good at solving problems, so when a visit to the community garden inspires a brilliant doggy idea, it’s time to celebrate! Young animal lovers will appreciate Zoe’s predicament and love her paws-itively pup-filled solution.“A dog lover prevented from pet ownership finds a creative solution. . . . Horan’s straightforward, minimal text tells a cheerful story. . . . A sweet and gently humorous tale, with lively, colorful illustrations that bring to life a tightknit urban community. Young children will feel empowered witnessing how Zoe finds a way to deal with a seemingly insurmountable issue. . . . An upbeat, charming reminder that any problem can be solved with the right attitude.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Horan’s first foray into picture books is expressively illustrated by Wulfekotte, whose spunky pups and sweet siblings pack cheery personality into every page. Zoe breaks the fourth wall to make eye contact with the reader at times, bringing us in on her good-natured scheme. Beyond the story’s appeal to animal admirers, Zoe’s original approach toward satisfying her wish for a dog demonstrates an admirable emotional intelligence. This is a charming pick for dog lovers and an obvious selection for library ‘paws to read’ programs.” —Booklist
Molly Horan also wrote the young adult novel Epically Earnest, and is a graduate of the New School’s MFA program in writing for children and young adults. She has worked as a web writer and editor focusing on entertainment writing at sites like KnowYourMeme and Refinery29, and is currently an English professor teaching writing for young adults and writing for the web at NYU and SVA. She lives in Astoria, New York.

Dana Wulfekotte (danawulfekotte.com), a freelance animator and children’s book author and illustrator, has illustrated numerous picture books, including the Schneider Family Honor book The Remember Balloons (by Jessie Oliveros), Squish Squash Squished (by Rebecca Kraft Rector), Awe-some Days (by Marilyn Singer), One Snowy Morning (by Kevin Tseng), and Tea Time (by Beth Ferry). She also wote and illustrated Rabbit & Possum. As an animator/designer, she has worked on various animation projects for HBO, PBS, Google, and many others. She lives in Queens , New York, with her husband and two rabbits.