Robert and the Great Pepperoni (Robert Books)

More than anything second grader Robert wants a dog, but he can’t persuade his parents to agree. A pet-sitting service is the compromise, and the adventures begin as his first client is a classmate with a pet tarantula. Robert takes on birds, cats, and even a rabbit who turns out to be an escaped TV star. One day a stray dog shows up in Robert’s backyard, and his parents give him permission to take care of it until it’s adopted. The task turns out to be more than he bargained for. Uplifting and funny, this story will have readers rooting for this endearing, less-than-perfect child whose heart is in the right place even when the rest of him isn’t.