My third-grader son and I recently read this together, and we loved it! Diva is a small well-bred dog who lives with her owner in an apartment building in Paris. Diva spends her day sitting in the fenced courtyard of the building too timid to imagine what lies outside her gate. Flea is an outgoing and curious alley cat who prides himself in his adventurous nature. Every day he passes by Diva's courtyard, and Diva gives him her fiercest little bark. It is so small and squeaky that it makes Flea laugh. Eventually, the two become friends, and Flea convinces Diva to leave her courtyard to explore the exciting city. What will happen when Diva leaves her courtyard and her fears behind?
Honestly, the reading level of this book was probably best for first or second grade, but even so, the story was entertaining for my third grader. It was funny and taught lessons about bravery and friendship in a light hearted way. My third grader isn't big on stories with a lot of edge or darkness, so this was up his alley in a big way. This would be great for first time novel readers because it is filled with illustrations making it a good bridge between picture book and chapter book. Check it out!
