Finally I can share the cover of my next middle grade book, Midnight at the Shelter, coming from HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books on November 1st, 2022. I absolutely LOVE this cover! It says everything. I mean look at those adorable characters coming at you — you can tell they are on a Very Important Mission, right? And they are. They have a shelter full of dogs to save and it’s the middle of the night. What could possibly be happening? So many questions, but this illustration makes me want to jump right into the scene and go with them.
From the jacket cover:
“After a hard life on the streets, rescue dog MahDi is content to help his owner, a veterinarian he knows as “MomDoc,” with her important work at the local animal shelter. The two of them make a good team, protecting the dogs in the neighborhood, and finding perfect homes for all of the animals who need them. Though lately, more animals have come through the shelter than usual—and MomDoc is getting worried that things are getting too crowded.
When they are suddenly down a staff member, the shelter has to deal with Huck, an unpleasant man who clearly doesn’t like animals. Which is fine; MahDi doesn’t like him either. Except that Huck seems to have no problem threatening the creatures he’s supposed to care for. And if MomDoc isn’t around, who knows what Huck might do?
With three perfectly good legs, the heart of a true leader, and his fellow pets Ozzie and Domino by his side, MahDi is determined to do whatever it takes to keep his pack safe.”
REVIEWS
“Oh, if only we could see it all from a dogs’-eye view. Maybe we’d understand more fully the importance of kindness, a full plate of kibble, and a loving human to seal the deal. By the end, I wanted to adopt all of the dogs in this story. I’d put them in charge of the world, whereupon they’d make us take long walks together and pay better attention to those around us. It’s that kind of book: a game changer for any creature who’s ever been lost or found or both.” ~ Kathi Appelt author of Newbery Honor book The Underneath
“Nanci Turner Steveson sagely delivers all the feels through well-crafted, cinematic scenes. From hard losses to the triumphs of finding home again, each creature—canine and human—takes their unique journey to the ultimate gift of unconditional love. Truly unforgettable!” ~Leslie Connor, author of National Book Award Finalist, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle and Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?
