GOTTA HAVE HEART!
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
"Grab Cupcake! We're going to the park. The dogs need practice for the Relays for Rio, Doggie Dash. Pause your game and let's go!" says Alex.
"I guess." Ella says closing her computer. Once at the dog park, it's difficult to control the dogs. All they want to do is sniff each other. Finally, they are ready and lined up. Gaby rings the bell. Max leads the way. They others are way behind him.
"Not fair!" shouts Gaby. "Max is way bigger and stronger."
The next Doggie Dash will just be me and Gaby with our small dogs," Ella says. You can all cheer us on!"
The race begins. Gaby and Maurice charge ahead.
"Come on, Cupcake! You can't let old Maurice beat you!" But they can't catch up. Ella drops on the grass---again! Cupcake cuddles next to her and licks the sweat off her face.
"I can't believe slow Maurice beat us," she sadly whispers.
"The next Doggie Dash will just be me and Gaby with our small dogs," Ella says. You can all cheer us on!"
The race begins. Gaby and Maurice charge ahead.
"Come on, Cupcake! You can't let old Maurice beat you!" But they can't catch up.
Ella drops on the grass---again! Cupcake cuddles next to her and licks the sweat off of her face.
"I can't believe show Maurice beat us," she whispers.
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Book Details
About the Book
Eight-year-old Ella Riley doesn’t like running in PE. The other kids call her Slo-Mo Ella. She’s always the last one to finish laps around the track.
But now, with the help of her teacher, Mrs. Rose, Ella’s class is putting together a relay race called Running for Rio—all designed to help her younger brother, Rio, who is five years old and who needs surgery to repair his heart. She’s grateful for the help and proud of her friends, but how can Slo-Mo Ella possibly join in running relay races? Ella’s determined not to quit. With a little bit of help and a lot of hard work and commitment, she’s going to do her best for her beloved little brother. Failure isn’t an option.
In this children’s story, a girl who struggles with running gets involved in a set of relay races to raise funds for her brother’s heart surgery and relies on her determination to succeed.
About the Author
Patricia T. Tanenbaum taught at a private school in New York City, raised three children and founded the Beverly Hills Unified K-12 Community Service Learning Program. Carol A. Zaslow, mother of two, taught early education in Inglewood, California, and as PTA president developed the Community Service Program at her children's school. Together, they developed a popular annual fundraiser in California, Kids Helping Kids for Literacy Scrabble Challenge. They are longtime members of SCBWI and their two books, BIG SHAGGY MAX and LOVABLE GRANDPA JOE, were awarded the Mother's Choice Gold Award for Excellence. For more information about the authors and to have them visit your school, please go to Pazazz! www.pzzcares.com/books