23 Dogs and 1 Cat
How One Class Came to the Rescue
A real story of kid power. A classroom of second graders writes persuasive letters from the pets’ points of view—and helps 24 hard-to-place animals find their forever homes.
Forthcoming
Explore Mary’s books
Mary writes fiction and true animal stories for children. She hopes they become the books children ask to hear again and later share with children of their own.
Forthcoming
Published
Nubs
The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle
Nubs led a pack of wild dogs struggling to survive in Iraq when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. Dennis shared his food, rubbed Nubs’s tummy, and gave the dog care and a warm place to sleep. When the unit moved seventy miles away, Nubs crossed a freezing desert to find him. Their reunion began the effort to bring Nubs to a permanent home with Dennis in the United States.
Awards and recognition
- New York Times Bestseller — 14 weeks
- Wall Street Journal Bestseller
- The Christopher Medal
- National Parenting Publication Gold Award
- Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book
View all 15 children’s choice awards and nominations
- Washington Children’s Choice Award
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award
- Maine Student Book Award
- Delaware Diamonds Book Award
- Colorado Children’s Book Award
- Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award
- Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award, Oregon
- Missouri Show Me Award
- Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award
- Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award
- Nebraska Golden Sower Primary Award
- California Young Reader Medal
- Illinois Bluestem Award
- Iowa Goldfinch Award
- Texas Horned Toad Tales Award
National media
- Today on NBC
- The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien
- People
- Reader’s Digest
- Dog Fancy’s DogChannel
- AOL’s Paw Nation
Reviews
“Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, authors of the Hurricane Katrina survival story Two Bobbies, pair with Dennis on this hugely inspirational true account. The gritty, low-res shots of the two companions against the bleak Iraqi countryside are married with text so gracefully that many of the compositions could be book jackets. Dennis’ emails and various other official documents liven the layout, but the payoff is the grinning face on Nub’s American passport. At long last he was going home.”
“Told in brief text augmented by Dennis’s facsimile e-mails and illustrated with clear color photos, this story presents a view of the Iraq war that makes it accessible to very young grade-schoolers, a welcome addition to collections serving that audience and especially useful for children of soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
“This is a feel-good entry in the current trend of inspirational true animal stories.”
“Everyone, from school kids to senior citizens should read this story of U.S. Marine, Major Brian Dennis, and the scrappy leader of a desert pack… The journey of this soldier and his canine soul-mate, told in sparse prose with e-mail messages from Dennis highlighting each section, is astonishing and unforgettable. Read it yourself, read it to your children, and pass it along to family and friends. Just make sure you have plenty of Kleenex handy.”
Two Bobbies
A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival
After Hurricane Katrina, Bobbi the dog and Bob Cat survived for months in the streets of New Orleans. Bobbi dragged a chain, and Bob Cat followed its sound. When the pair reached a shelter, their rescuers discovered that Bob Cat was blind. The two friends refused to be separated.
Watch the Two Bobbies book trailer
Awards and recognition
- ASPCA Henry Bergh Award, 2008
- IRA Teachers’ Choice, 2009
- Notable Social Studies Trade Book, 2009
- Junior Literary Guild Selection
- NPR All Things Considered
- The book was one of three SIBA Award finalists.
- The book appeared in Bank Street College’s 100th anniversary edition of the Best Children’s Books of the Year.
View all 20 children’s choice state award results
- Alabama Camellia Award, 2009–10
- Beehive Award, Utah, 2010
- Bill Martin Jr. Award, Kansas, 2010, lost by one vote
- Colorado Children’s Book Award, 2010, runner-up
- Washington State Children’s Choice Picture Book Award, 2010
- Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award, North Dakota, 2010
- North Carolina Children’s Book Award, 2010
- Montana Treasure State Award, 2010
- Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Award, 2009–10
- Arkansas Diamond Award, 2010–11
- South Carolina Book Award, 2010–11
- Louisiana Children’s Choice Award, 2010–11
- Nevada Young Readers’ Award, 2010–11
- Louisiana Young Reader’s Choice Award, 2011
- Show Me Readers Award, Missouri, 2011
- Monarch Award, Illinois, 2011, second place
- Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award, 2011
- Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award, 2011–12
- Florida Children’s Book Award, 2012–13
- Minnesota Fifteen Books Award, 2012–13
The Famous Nini
The Mostly True Story of How a Plain White Cat Became a Star
In 1890s Venice, a café owner takes in a stray white cat named Nini. His visitors soon include Giuseppe Verdi and the pope, as well as other luminaries of the time. Nini’s purr also comforts a grieving child. The story combines historical events with imagined details; an author’s note explains what is fact and what is fiction.
Reviews
“Nethery has a lot of fun with Nini’s story, creating characters openhearted enough to be touched by a purr or a nudge against the shins.”
“What a lovely story this is about the healing power of animals and the joy they bring to humans… Author, Mary Nethery is really a master at this genre.”
“My daughter loved it very much. She read it every day before going to sleep.”
Hannah and Jack
Hannah spends every day with Jack, her cat and her best friend. When a visit to her grandmother’s means leaving him behind, she cannot enjoy any of it—until Grandma finds a way for the inseparable pair to share the trip after all.
Mary Veronica’s Egg
Mary Veronica cares for an egg that has rolled out of its nest. Its mother cannot be found. As she waits for it to hatch, she learns about love and caring for another living thing.
Reviews
“Mary Veronica’s attachment to the egg takes center stage and pays off in the end. Children will be peeping (or quacking) in appreciation.”
Reading with a class?
Mary has taught primary grades and worked on writing with students from kindergarten through college. Ask her about a book, a read-aloud, or a school or library visit.
To:
Mary Nethery
Richmond, Virginia