Fenway and the Bone Thieves

Make Way for Fenway! #1

by Victoria J. Coe, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator)

There's nothing better than a brand-new bone!
And nothing worse than sneaky squirrels trying to steal it! But Fenway is smarter than those squirrels and he finds the perfect place to hide his bone.
The only problem is, the hiding place might be too hard for Fenway to find, too!

Genres: Dogs, Fiction, Chapter Books, Childrens

85 pages, Hardcover

Published March 22, 2022

About the author

Victoria J. Coe is a celebrated children’s author, best known for her Fenway and Hattie series – a One School, One Book favorite, Amazon Teachers’ Pick, and the early reader selection for the Global Read Aloud. Her numerous books for children also include the chapter book series Make Way for Fenway! for which she won the 2024 SCBWI Sid Fleischman Honor Award for Humor. A dynamic presenter and workshop leader at elementary schools and writers’ organizations, Victoria is co-author of the acclaimed “how to” guides, Writing Kidlit 101 and Writing Kidlit 102.

Victoria has a remarkable talent for creating big, loveable animal characters and immersing readers in the animal’s authentic point of view. While her primary motivation is to entertain, she deeply believes that learning to appreciate perspectives other than our own has the power to change the world.

A native New Englander and imaginary New Yorker, Victoria lives in Boston and her hometown of Duxbury, MA. If not reading or writing, she is most often exhibiting her “I’m just here to have fun” dance moves or happily dive-flopping in the sea.

Reviews

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited for this series! I love the Fenway and Hattie books and knowing that we get to introduce Fenway to readers even younger, makes me so happy!
Fenway has just returned from the Treat Place (pet store) and has a delicious new bone to chew on. But will those evil backyard squirrels get their paws on it? Fenway has just the idea, bury it! But what happens when Fenway can't find his buried bone?

[Bridget Hodder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenway is his usual hilarious, irrepressible self in this tale that makes Fenway accessible to younger readers! It's lovely to have a series to buy one after the other, knowing that as your kids or students age, they will grow into reading more about the same characters in the upper-level Fenway & Hattie books. A perfect choice for home and classroom!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful chapter book written In the voice of the world’s happiest dog, Fenway. Highly recommend for 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little audiobook that dog lovers and kids K-3 would enjoy.

[Kathryn Currier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cure book for kids who like dogs and just started with chapter books!

[Jenn Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun new chapter book series! I think emerging readers are going to really love Fenway's antics.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun read aloud.

[Beth P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, delightful early chapter book series! Can’t wait to share with kids!

[Amy Sole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute beginner chapter book. My 4 year old little boy LOVED it! And I really enjoyed reading it to him.

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindy-infinity stars
Jasper-11 bones

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenway's always getting into some scrape or another, but because he's a good good dog, things always turn out ok. In this beginning chapter series, young readers are in for a treat when Fenway's decision to hide his beloved bone with those ever-present ferocious squirrels lead to unintended and hilarious consequences. Readers will cheer for this new series!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

As mentioned in a previous post, Early Reader Extravaganza, when we first learn to read our perceptions about our world change. We gobble up words to quench a hunger. It is a hunger to know, to understand, to explore, to travel to places real and imagined, to have sensory experiences, to laugh, to cry, to have our hearts warmed, broken and healed and to meet people like us and completely different from us. We feed this hunger as early readers by bonding with what we find within the pages of books; whether it is information satisfying our curiosity or characters and their situations that actively engage us.

For lovers of canines, two new early reader series supply loads of laughter and the antics of dogs living their best lives.

This second series of books highlights a character older readers already know. His name is Fenway, a Jack Russell terrier. He made a name for himself in the upper elementary/middle grade novels, Fenway and Hattie, Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang, Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks, and Fenway and Hattie In the Wild. With each title, readers are able to see the progress as Fenway and his human grow better together. In Fenway And The Bone Thieves (G. P. Putnam's Sons, May 3, 2022) and Fenway And The Frisbee Trick (G. P. Putnam's Sons, May 3, 2022) written by Victoria J. Coe with illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, Fenway is still offering his spot-on insights in his own voice about his next-door neighbor dog friends, his humans, sneaky squirrels, and the elusive Frisbee.

My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Everyone knows that dogs are better than squirrels. Dogs make humans happy. Dogs live in houses. Dogs ride in cars. Squirrels do none of these things.

Premise/plot: Fenway and his humans are starring in a new chapter book series. In this first adventure, Fenway is thrilled to get a bone, but, unsure exactly HOW to keep that bone safe. If he buries it, well, it will be safe. But he won't exactly get to enjoy it in the here and now. And is it really that safe? What if someone else finds HIS bone and steals it??? What's a dog to do?

My thoughts: I enjoyed meeting Fenway, Hattie, Food Lady, and Fetch Man. This was my first introduction to Fenway. However, I think it is important to point out that there a handful of books (for older readers) starring Fenway and Hattie.

Fenway and Hattie
Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang
Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks
Fenway and Hattie in the Wild

Presumably, readers will in the future most likely meet Fenway and Hattie in these new early readers (early chapter books), and grow into the original series.

I liked the book well enough to be curious about both series. I can't say that I am in love with these characters just yet. I found the book charming, but, not necessarily deep. (Then again how many early readers have enough depth and substance to be called "deep"?)

I will definitely look and see if my local library has the original series.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you looking for short, chapter books with picture support? I read Fenway and the Bone Thieves and LOVED it - even though the first page says dogs are better than squirrels.

What I loved most about this book is that it is a fun and funny look at life from a dog's perspective. Why aren't his humans giving him treats? Why are they mad when he's trying to help them? Fenway's series is sure to be a big hit with young readers who enjoy shorter books.

It would also make a wonderful read-with-me (or read-to-me) book to spark lots of conversations. I will be recommending this series to my students.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Fenway & Hattie series, and this new early chapter book series about Fenway is perfect for younger readers to read independently. The Illustrations are adorable, and the story is a perfect length to boost the confidence and stamina of kids who are ready for short chapter books (K-2nd). This series is so great for practicing inferring skills, since Fenway is telling the story, and teaching kids about point of view! They will giggle at Fenway’s misperceptions and his antics. Fenway is as irresistible in this new series as in the original Fenway & Hattie!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fenway gets a new bone with his humans and to prevent the mean squirrels from taking it, he buries it in the dog park (the backyard). Unfortunately, he forgets where he put it. It's written from Fenway's point of view, so it's a funny read. For example, the mom is Food Lady and the dad is Fetch Man. Nothing too exceptional though. For fans of the Good Dog series, the Adventures of Pug series, The Daily Bark series, and the Underdogs series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenway from the middle grade series, Fenway and Hattie, is now the star of a chapter book series. Like the middle grade books, this is told from the perspective of Fenway, a very delightful and energetic Jack Russell terrier. In this first book, he is determined to keep his bone safe, but sneaky squirrels make that difficult for him. Readers will be amused with Fenway's antics.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story told from the dogs point of view. Could be a little confusing for beginner chapter book readers because the dog refers to things like his backyard as a “dog park” and his owners are “Fetch Man” & “Food Lady”.

[Michelle Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this new series! I can’t wait to introduce our young readers to Fenway!

[Jessica S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fenway and Hattie books are such fun books. I'm glad they've made ones for younger readers to be able to enjoy.

[Krista Koopmans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book! My Kindergartener going on 1st grade enjoyed this quite a bit!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute. I love the fact that it's written in a way that reflects how I feel like a dog thinks- at least based on how they act.

[Angelika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy chapter book, cute pics, a little light on the story, though it's cute how it's told from the view point of the dog.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.