The Promise by Jackie French Koller illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers

Pa, Matt and Jaime are grieving over the lost of their departed wife and mother.  This first Christmas without her is proving challenging.
Matt continues her tradition of feeding the animals a special Christmas Eve treat.  When he and Sara (their golden Lab.) go to hang suet balls for the birds on an evergreen tree, a bear waddles into the clearing, blocking Matt and Sara from the house.
What happens next is an exciting chase showing the loyalty of a dog and the faith of a boy.

The chapters are short and mostly exciting.  My boys wanted me to read several chapters in one sitting!
This story takes place in the 1800's so it was fun to discuss how our lives are different from the characters' lives.

Points to discuss/warnings: This story has Sara, the dog, talking at midnight (which Ma had told the boys animals could do on Christmas Eve at midnight).  Instead of praying to God, Matt prays to Ma.  His faith is more in his Ma than God.  Also, the threesome think Ma is an angel watching out for them and taking care of them.
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.6
We own this book.