{"title":"Maria Bea Alfano","description":"Maria Bea Alfano is a freelance writer, artist, and sometimes educator. She has written how-to-draw books for major licensed brands such as Pokémon, Dragonball Z, and Trollz. She has taught art and soccer to preschoolers in NYC, English to middle-schoolers in Spain, reading to first-graders via an online tutoring platform, and writing workshops to adults via SCBWI. When she's not working to inspire curiosity in kids, she can be found in the pottery studio and on the soccer field. She lives in New York City with her doggie BFF who loves to hike, train in agility, and befriend strangers. This is Maria's first fiction series.","products":[{"product_id":"barkers-doghouse-3-high-five-hardcover","title":"Barker's Doghouse 3: High Five! - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe third book in a charming and funny early middle grade series about a boy finding his way in a new place with the help of some talking dogs. 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But when he loses the ability to speak with Gary, Gio must find a new way forward... and a new understanding of what it really means to win.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51440237084895,"sku":"9781645952893","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/B-4jK-PlL19781645952893.webp?v=1790135574"},{"product_id":"barkers-doghouse-1-fetch-hardcover","title":"Barker's Doghouse 1: Fetch! - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe first book in a charming and funny early middle grade series about a boy finding his way in a new place with the help of some talking dogs. A little bit \u003ci\u003eNew Kid\u003c\/i\u003e, a little bit \u003ci\u003eSecret Life of Pets\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTen-year-old Gio Barker is down in the dumps. His mom has uprooted him to a new school and a new town, all so she can start her own business. Gio used to see friends after school, but now he's stuck hanging around his mom's new doggy day care. Then one day he mistakes a dog biscuit for a human cookie, and suddenly he can talk to the dogs! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe day care dogs become the friends Gio desperately needs. They tell him some of the great secrets of dog life, and he takes them for wild romps in the park. But when the dogs realize that Gio is struggling, they take it upon themselves to teach him everything they know. Sure, they're lessons from dog school, but some of these skills are useful in any context. Take Fetch, for instance. It's a game of give and take - perfect skills to practice if Gio wants to make the soccer team or find a human friend!","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51454555717855,"sku":"9781645952718","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/kp1BCRl9xE9781645952718.webp?v=1790308477"},{"product_id":"barkers-doghouse-2-leave-it-hardcover","title":"Barker's Doghouse 2: Leave It! - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe second book in a charming and funny early middle grade series about a boy finding his way in a new place with the help of some talking dogs. A little bit \u003ci\u003eNew Kid\u003c\/i\u003e, a little bit \u003ci\u003eSecret Life of Pets\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The doghouse dogs are NOT happy when they hear that Gio's mom is taking in a foster puppy. Puppies destroy everything. Their tiny teeth are deadly! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Luckily, Gio has a special power to help Bean feel at home--he can talk to puppies! Pretty soon, Gio's mom thinks he's some kind of genius dog trainer. Gio's sure this means he'll get everything he wants for his birthday this year. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e But what happens when the puppy chews up Gio's perfect birthday plans? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNone of the daycare dogs are happy when they hear that Julie, Gio's mom, will be taking in a foster puppy. Puppies destroy everything, the older dogs tell Gio. Their tiny teeth are lethal! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut Gio, of course, has a special power to help Bean, the pup, get acclimated. He can talk her through everything! Soon his mom thinks he's a genius with the pup, and his reward will be a special birthday trip back to his old neighborhood. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe only thing is that Gio's new friends are planning a party for him at the same time. 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