"Bear and Katie" stars dogs in trouble
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER

Loni Burchett has written her fifth children's book called "Bear and Katie in A Crazy Day at the Beach," subtitled "Trouble in Nantucket." The story features dogs who anger people enough to cause them to be picked up by an animal officer and put behind bars.

This book centers around a couple who have two black Labs named Katie and Bear who all take a trip to the Cape and Islands. The story will surely appeal to dog lovers and contains an interesting mix of geography and history about the places they visit that is woven into the story itself.

When the couple and their dogs reach Nantucket, they want to explore the beaches. As it turns out, Katie lands herself under arrest after joining in a beach volleyball game not far from where many people are sunbathing, including a rather grumpy woman who becomes angry when Katie inadvertently kicks sand on her and causes her to spill her tanning lotion.

The frustrated beach-goer grabs her cell phone and reports that a dog has been threatening the safety of children at the beach. Not long after she calls, an animal officer nabs Katie and puts her in the pound. What ensues is a collaboration among several island dogs, all of which speak to each other and can communicate with humans, to find Katie and other innocent, impounded pooches to have them set free.

Once that is accomplished and it is discovered that the grouchy beach lady falsely turned in other dogs, she is apprehended just as she is about to leave on the ferry. She receives her just rewards by being made to stay on the island for a week and help feed, water and clean up after the dogs she caused to be wrongly held.

The illustrated "Bear and Katie" was released by Black Lab Publications on June 25.