PAWS: Gabby Gets It Together

Gr 3-6–This upbeat series opener centers on Gabby, a Canadian fifth grader and her two besties, who bond over their love of animals. Lamenting that none of them can own a pet, the girls start a neighborhood dog-walking business: PAWS (Pretty Awesome WalkerS). Headstrong Gabby, fashion-minded Mindy, and sporty Priya share an entrepreneurial spirit and a can-do attitude, but each girl has very different priorities, and they soon find themselves in over their heads. Although their conflicts threaten to undermine the success of their dog-walking venture, the trio ultimately avert a crisis and learn that their friendship is more important than business. Themes of cooperation, problem-solving, and empathy are complemented by lively illustrations, expressive character designs, and easy-to-follow page layouts. The tween dialogue is delightfully accurate; the girls use terms like doggo and floof to refer to their canine charges. Gabby, who is brown-skinned, is part of an interracial family; Priya is of Indian descent; and Mindy is Korean Canadian.