Author: Alice Hoffman
Illustrator: Yumi Heo
ISBN: 978-0439598545
Reading Level: Early Elementary
Main Character: Angel (the “were-puppy”), along with Michael and Hazel
Plot: Michael and Hazel find a puppy left on their porch and decide to keep him, naming him Angel. At first, everything feels normal until the moon comes out.
Settings: A cozy home and neighborhood.
Genre/Theme/Style: Children’s picture book, light fantasy, responsibility, and the unexpected.
I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁
Why 4 Roars? This book leans into that slightly strange, slightly fun feeling kids get around Halloween. It doesn’t try to be scary; it plays right on the edge of it.
The illustrations carry a lot of the mood. They make the nighttime scenes feel active but not overwhelming. Kids who like animals and a little bit of mystery will stick with it.
It’s not a loud, high-energy story. It’s quieter and a bit odd in a good way, but that also means it won’t land the same for every reader.
The story doesn’t spell everything out. Instead of explaining the rules, it lets the situation sit there. That can be a strength because it leaves room for imagination, but it can also leave some kids with questions.
It’s less about the creature itself and more about how the kids respond to it.
Connections: Even though Moondog is a children’s book, it fits into the same kind of storytelling world that Practical Magic 2 is part of. The new movie is expected in theaters September 18, 2026.
In Practical Magic 2, it’s a family dealing with a long-standing curse and hidden powers.
In Moondog, it’s a puppy that changes under the moon.
With Hoffman’s style, kids get the lighter version: a strange situation that doesn’t turn dark, just different.
So if the movie brings attention back to her works, this book fits right in, just in a simpler form.
"Tooth of wolf and morning dew/something old and something new."
