Books with author Mary Ellen Sterling

When Tanner Dog meets the cat next door, they decide to go to explore the park. Mr. Vlad the cat knows that not all dogs and cats get along, and at first he’s careful with his new friend. When Tanner Dog asks Mr. Vlad if he wants to go back to the park, Mr. Vlad says he needs to check his work schedule. That’s when Tanner Dog learns that Mr. Vlad is a professor of knowledge who spends most of his time reading books from the library. Tanner Dog tells Mr. Vlad that he’s a private investigator, and that the two of them should team up to investigate mysteries. “You can do the research from your library books. Then together we can understand things we are curious about!” he says. Mr. Vlad agrees, and the first mystery they investigate is, “What is a best friend? “ The question leads to a series of adventures that ends with a startling answer that will change their lives forever.

When a puppy goes to the pet store so he can find a special family to take him home, he’s understandably nervous. But then he sees all the other puppies, kittens, fish, and birds playing. He’s happy to join everyone. When he wakes up from a nap, he looks out the pet store window and sees a beautiful little girl staring at him. Next to her is a man with a friendly face who calls the little girl KC. Is this going to be his new family, the puppy wonders. When the puppy arrives at his new home, he begins to investigate and meets everyone in his new family. There’s even a little boy that’s just his size to play with. The pup does some more investigating and his new mom tells him his name is Tanner Dog. “You are a good boy Tanner Dog. We love you, ” she tells him. Tanner Dog—the private investigator—doesn’t know it yet, but there will be plenty more mysteries to explore, and in the future, he’ll have some help from the professor cat next door, Mr. Vlad.