Merlin

by Cynthia Lord

  Here are two things that Bubble taught me:

  • Even swimming upside down will get you somewhere.

  • When people say you can’t do something, maybe they’re wrong.

  You can learn more about me and see photos of the pets I have today at www.cynthialord.com.

  — Cynthia Lord

  I promise to be kind and gentle to all animals. I will make sure that any pets in my care are loved, comfortable, safe, and have enough food and water. If I want to approach a pet I don’t know, I will ask the owner first. When I am with an animal, I won’t only think about what I want. I will think about how that animal might feel and what he wants, too. I will do my part to make the world a better place for animals everywhere.

  CYNTHIA LORD is the award-winning author of Rules, a Newbery Honor and Schneider Family Book Award winner, as well as the critically-acclaimed novels Half a Chance and A Handful of Stars. She made her picture book debut with Hot Rod Hamster, which won several awards including the Parents’ Choice Award, and followed it with the beloved sequels Happy Birthday, Hamster and Hot Rod Hamster Monster Truck Mania. She lives in Maine with her family and pets and is a regular volunteer at her local animal shelter. Visit her at www.cynthialord.com.

  Text copyright © 2015 by Cynthia Lord

  Illustrations © 2015 by Scholastic Inc.

  All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  First printing 2015

  Cover art by Erin McGuire

  Cover design by Nina Goffi

  e-ISBN 978-0-545-63602-5

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