Anna & Natalie

When her teacher announces a letter-writing contest to decide which four students will be chosen to help lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, in Arlington National Cemetery, Anna is determined to win. The third grader has never before been picked for anything-not the softball or the basketball team, yet she daydreams about being given this opportunity. On the day of the announcement, the letter "From Natalie (with help from Anna)" is chosen. It asks for Anna to accompany her. It [is not] until the conclusion of the book that readers actually realize that Anna is blind and Natalie is her seeing-eye dog. A page about "Dogs in War" and information about the National War Dog Memorial Fund to honor the service of dogs in wartime is appended. Pen and ink and watercolor artwork dramatically fills the spreads. --School Library Journal