Miracle Dogs of Portugal

Book excerpt: Miracle Dogs of Portugal leads children on a voyage of discovery to 15th century Portugal, with the almost-true story of Henry the Navigator. When Henry was just a boy he summoned his own courage to take a surprising journey where he meets a delightful cast of characters - Milagro the Miracle Dog, Diego the fisherman, a cadre of sea creatures - and discovers his own dream. This almost-true story of historical figure Henry the Navigator and the history of the Portuguese Water Dog is the first in a historical fiction series for children that explains the periods and characters of world history using dogs as the ambassador to learning. The Miracle Dog series is appropriate for ages 5-10. Though the stories are fiction, the historical accuracy and context is designed to give children both the framework and the motivation to seek out more information about the character and the period in which the story is set, while inspiring them to make miracles in their own lives.