Felix Powell, Boy Dog

“This is a fast-paced, humorous tale of friendship and empathy filled with fun and informative interstitial art and graphic panels… . [A] charming, lightly magical tale.” - School Library Journal

“It’s summer in Louisiana, but eight-year-old Felix insists on buying a threadbare blanket at the thrift store, certain it has a special quality… . Felix pops under the blanket as a human boy, but he emerges from the cover as a scruffy canine… . The hysterical high jinks happen over the course of one day, and the brisk pace, ample illustrations, comic-strip interludes, and hilarious commentary will appeal to even reluctant readers… . A creative canine conundrum packed with humor and heart.” - Booklist

“Short chapters create a well-paced narrative with an appropriate amount of suspense, while Kelly’s plentiful b&w drawings enhance the friendly ambiance… . A just-right book for a developing reader.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Woven effectively into this whimsical story are animal facts and insights into how dogs perceive the world; animal lovers like Felix will be pleased. Kelly folds in lessons of empathy and compassion… . A charming dog’s tale sure to reward curious readers.” - Kirkus Reviews

“The storyline of this early chapter book is direct and well-contained, with the three major players having distinct personalities and roles to play… . Felix and Puppins have a gleeful energy… but Felix’s push and pull with Gumbo forms the emotional core. The cat is snobby and patronizing, yet Felix finds that when he’s mean in turn, he feels worse… . Kelly gives readers a sympathetic and relatable kid in Felix as he figures out how to stand up for himself without resorting to cruelty.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Erin Entrada Kelly is the author of the Newbery Medal-winning novels Hello, Universe and The First State of Being, which was also named a finalist for the National Book Award. She received a Newbery Honor for her acclaimed novel We Dream of Space.

Kelly grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and now lives in Delaware. She teaches in the MFA in writing for children and young adults program at Hamline University. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Philippines Free Press Literary Award for Short Fiction and the Pushcart Prize. Before becoming a children’s author, she worked as a journalist and magazine editor and received numerous awards for community service journalism, feature writing, and editing from the Louisiana Press Association and the Associated Press.

Her debut novel, Blackbird Fly, was a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, an ALSC Notable Book, and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book. She is also the author of:

• The Land of Forgotten Girls, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
• You Go First, an Indie Next Pick
• Lalani of the Distant Sea, an Indie Next Pick
• Those Kids from Fawn Creek, named to numerous best-of-the-year lists
• The Second Life of Snap, which received six starred reviews
• Six popular novels for younger readers: Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey, Surely Surely Marisol Rainey, Only Only Marisol Rainey, Your Turn Marisol Rainey, Felix Powell, Boy Dog, and Felix Powell, Boy Squirrel (which she also illustrated).

Kelly’s acclaimed nonfiction debut, At Last She Stood, was the recipient of the Robert F. Sibert Honor. It tells the sweeping story of Filipino World War II guerrilla fighter, Josefina Guerrero.

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