Bagels on Board!

Gr 1–3—In this slim chapter book interspersed with black-and-white illustrations, readers meet Josh Bernstein and his family. In addition to his parents and his sister, Becky, Josh has a dog named Bagel, a cat named Creamcheese, and a fish named Lox. In this title, Josh and his family have won a cruise with "Betsy Brown's Baked Beans." These canned beans are in tomato sauce, and this family loves them served over a bagel. The problem: Bagel doesn't want to be left behind while the family is on the cruise. The crafty canine manages to escape from Aunt Sharon, the pet sitter, and joins the family on the ship. Only Josh and Becky know Bagel is on board, and they manage to keep it a secret for several days. There is also a minor secondary story line: a mystery in which Josh and Becky try to figure out what a mysterious lady, whom they've nicknamed Red, is trying to hide from two suspicious men. Newly independent readers should find the text relatively easy to read, and the plot is simple, if a tad predictable.