Maggie, a heavily pregnant black Labrador mix, is abandoned by her family, who pack up and leave her locked inside their now bare house, where she is eventually discovered by the realtor, and taken to the local animal control facility. Here she delivers her eleven puppies, nine of which survive and are shortly adopted. Maggie herself, however, is passed over again and again - becoming "just another big black dog, blending into the shadows" - until it begins to look as though she will have be euthanized. Fortunately, a local fourth grader named Jeff, learning of Maggie's story, and of her impending execution, convinces his class to get involved in a project to convince their town council to build a no-kill shelter. But will it be in time to give Maggie the second chance she deserves...?

Part of The Gryphon Press' Sit! Stay! Read! series of picture-books, intended for use in human education, Maggie's Second Chance is an immensely poignant book, one that does not shy away from some unpleasant realities, in human-canine relationships. I had a lump in my throat, and tears in my eyes, as Maggie's erstwhile family (carefully avoiding looking at her) abandon her to her fate. I understand that circumstances change, and people can't always keep their animal companions - I have sympathy for that situation, and know it can be heartbreaking, for all involved! - but who leaves a dependent animal in a situation where they will slowly starve to death?!? What if the realtor hadn't showed up in time? It boggles the mind...

Useful as a means of prompting discussion about how we treat animals, this is also an inspiring story of young people getting involved in their community and making a difference. It is all the more impressive for being based on a true story from Dalhart, Texas (see the Dawgs in Texas website for more details), where fourth-graders did just was Jeff and his classmates do in this book! Touching, informative, and beautifully illustrated, Maggie's Second Chance is a book I would recommend to young dog and animal lovers, and to anyone looking for good stories to use in humane education. ( )