Pack of Hearts

by Danette Vigilante

Pack of Hearts is an illustrated early chapter book for readers ages 7–9, inspired by a true story.

Slick is a thoughtful junkyard dog who believes that looking out for others matters, even when life is hard. When Luna, a gentle poodle from the neighborhood, is suddenly separated from her mom, Slick refuses to stand back and hope for the best. He pulls together a small, unlikely pack, each with their own strengths and fears, and sets out to help her find her way home.

As the pack follows clues through the neighborhood, their journey leads them somewhere unexpected, where kindness, responsibility, and courage begin to shape the outcome in ways they did not anticipate.

Warm, emotionally grounded, and gently humorous, Pack of Hearts explores empathy, community, and what it means to take responsibility for one another. With illustrations throughout and a story that invites both independent reading and shared discussion, this book is well suited for young readers who enjoy animal-centered stories with heart.

124 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 20, 2026

About the author

Danette Vigilante grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and continues to call New York City home. She is the author of The Sand Beneath the Waves and Tia Lugo Speaks No Evil, the latter of which has earned several accolades, including a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Gold Medal, a Bronze Medal from the Independent Publisher Book Awards for multicultural fiction (JUV/YA), and an Honorable Mention at the International Latino Book Awards. Her other works include The Trouble with Half a Moon, a Sunshine State Young Readers Award nominee, and Saving Baby Doe, named to the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list. Her illustrated chapter book for early readers, Pack of Hearts, continues her focus on stories rooted in empathy, courage, and community. A longtime advocate for literacy, Danette engages young readers through school visits and community outreach.

Reviews

[Jaida · Rating 5 out of 5]

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧ฅ ฅ𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧ฅ ฅ𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧ฅ ฅ𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

I want to start by saying no dogs die in this book! Also no song because I couldn't find one that fit. This was adorable! I love these dogs, they are so cute. This is definitely for a younger audience but I'm fifteen and still greatly enjoyed it so if you want something adorable and friendship centered that features dogs as main characters or if you have a younger sibling who would like this I definitely recommend reading it. I cried while reading this because Slick is separated from his parents and some parts were sad because of that. I love that this was inspired by a true story! And the ending was perfect and so, so cute! I loved this sm actually it was adorable. If you like movies like homeward bound or a dog's way home then I would definitely recommend reading this because it has all the same vibes!

The Characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Slick ~ Aw he was so adorable I loved him.

Luna ~ she was cute.

Link ~ he was so cute and funny.

Athena ~ she was such a cat I loved her! Her personality reminded me of Sassy from homeward bound.

Goodboy ~ He was so cute and I loved how proper he was.

Big Boots ~ I hated this man.

What To Expect
🦴 Fully Narrated By A Dog
🦴 Friendship
🦴 Cuteness
🦴 Lower Middle Grade
🦴 Easy To Read

Quotes
~~~~~~~
“Bad boots may have chained me up, called me a mutt, and left me with hardly anything to eat or drink, but he couldn't take away who I was or who I could become.”

“The noise machine went silent, replaced by whistling. The tune sounded cheerful, but the story it told was a lie, a tale spun in a place of misery.”

“This place needed a shake-up," he says one afternoon, eyes half closed, “And you brought the storm that did it.” I smiled. Maybe I did, but it wasn't only me. It was Luna, chasing love. It was Athena, fighting smart. It was Goodboy, steadfast in friendship. It was Link, running free. It was every tail wag, every bark, and every word of encouragement. It was us. A pack of hearts.”

Content
~~~~~~~
❤️‍🔥Romance| none.

🤬Language| none.

🗡️Violence| a mention of fighting,

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ| none.

✝️Religion/Spirituality| a woman calls her dog a guardian angel,

🍷Alcohol/Drugs| none.

⚠️Other| Big Boots is neglectful and mildly abusive towards Slick, nursing homes, illness,

[Booklovingolfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and Chichi for the advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good dog story, and Pack of Hearts absolutely delivered. Slick showed so much resilience and heart. I couldn’t help but root for him from the very beginning. Any animal loving kid will find these characters relatable, funny, and incredibly heartwarming.
I especially enjoyed that the story was told from the dogs’ point of view. It made everything feel more immersive and gave the adventure an extra layer of charm. The graphics throughout the book really added to the story and were beautifully done, making it even more engaging for young readers.
Overall, this is a sweet, uplifting read that’s perfect for kids who love animal stories filled with friendship and courage.

[Tracy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pack of Hearts is a story of resilience and strength, along with a huge dash of bravery and friendship. This is a great book for teaching children to never give up on their dreams and to try no matter the odds until you get what you want.

I loved Slick, Goodboy, Athena, and Link and no matter how different they all were, they formed a pack of best friends.

I thought it very sweet that this was based off a real life occurrence of a dog who escaped and made a nursing home his own.

Thank you for the story.