When strict Mrs. Derkman moves next door to third-grader Katie Carew, scares her friends away, and insists she keep her dog, Pepper, on a leash, Katie finds a non-magical solution to the problem. Includes steps for teaching a dog to sit and stay.

Sparky's magic bone takes him to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil where he encounters a variety of creatures, becomes leader of a pack of web-footed dogs, and helps protect their home from two-legs in metal machines that have flattened so many trees, Sparky cannot find where he buried his bone. Includes facts about the rainforest and its residents.

"When Sparky's magic bone blasts him to Tokyo, Japan, he discovers a whole new world--one with karaoke, 'squishy fishy' and sumo wrestlers! His new friend, an Akita named Nanami, guides him around the city, until Sparky loses her in a crowd. But it turns out Nanami isn't just any Akita. She's the queen of the Ninja Dogs--a fierce group who are convinced that Sparky has kidnapped her"--

When Sparky's is left home alone, he bites his magic bone and winds up in Washington, DC! The US capital has statues, a monument that looks like a giant stick, and a big white house with a huge yard. His new dog friend says he's happy roaming the city without his family, but Sparky isn't so sure he feels the same. Can Sparky find a way to change his new friends's mind, and also find his way home?

"Yeehaw, Sparky is off to the Texas rodeo to find himself a job! There he eats delicious-smelling BBQ, watches mutton chasing and barrel racing, and even helps a new friend become a rodeo dog. But as Sparky heads home, he still doesn't have a job himself. Wait, he has the very best job of all--being Josh's best friend!"--

Tired of attending obedience school, Sparky the puppy finds adventure in Hawaii after chomping on the magic bone.

Third-grader Jack Doyle is walking his dog Scout when an acorn drops on his head and he suddenly discovers that he can converse with Scout and other animals and insects. This unusual development proves helpful as Jack tries to solve the mystery of why his best friend Leo's homework is missing.