Sparrow, Always
Published on 4. November 2025
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-1-6659-6329-9 (ISBN)
Description
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
In this “engaging, heartfelt” (School Library Journal, starred review) companion to Sparrow Being Sparrow and Sparrow Spreads Her Wings, Sparrow wants to help the guide-dog-in-training next door pass his test but soon finds she may be the one in need of help when she has difficulty staying on task in school.
Yellow daffodils and dandelions are blooming, and a new neighbor is moving into the unit next door to Sparrow’s, along with a service-dog-in-training named Toby. Sparrow soon falls in love with Toby and gets involved with helping him pass his service dog test. In fact, she gets so obsessed with learning about service dogs that she can’t focus on what she’s supposed to be doing in school, and soon Toby’s not the only one who needs to worry about getting tested.
Now Sparrow has to meet with the school social worker alongside some kids in “friendship group,” even though she doesn’t need any new friends. Sparrow is used to being the one to help others, but she’s having more and more trouble staying on task in class; and if she messes up too many times in school, she won’t be able to walk Toby anymore. Can she be the Sparrow she’s always been if she’s not the helper but the one being helped?
In this “engaging, heartfelt” (School Library Journal, starred review) companion to Sparrow Being Sparrow and Sparrow Spreads Her Wings, Sparrow wants to help the guide-dog-in-training next door pass his test but soon finds she may be the one in need of help when she has difficulty staying on task in school.
Yellow daffodils and dandelions are blooming, and a new neighbor is moving into the unit next door to Sparrow’s, along with a service-dog-in-training named Toby. Sparrow soon falls in love with Toby and gets involved with helping him pass his service dog test. In fact, she gets so obsessed with learning about service dogs that she can’t focus on what she’s supposed to be doing in school, and soon Toby’s not the only one who needs to worry about getting tested.
Now Sparrow has to meet with the school social worker alongside some kids in “friendship group,” even though she doesn’t need any new friends. Sparrow is used to being the one to help others, but she’s having more and more trouble staying on task in class; and if she messes up too many times in school, she won’t be able to walk Toby anymore. Can she be the Sparrow she’s always been if she’s not the helper but the one being helped?
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Kindergarten, Interest Age: From 7 to 10 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 213 mm
Width: 142 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
249 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6659-6329-9 (9781665963299)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Gail Donovan
Sparrow, Always
E-Book
11/2025
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
€10.87
Available for download
Persons
Gail Donovan was fired from her first job in an ice cream shop for making the sundaes too big. She now works in a library and writes middle grade novels, including Sparrow Being Sparrow, a Junior Library Guild Selection; Finchosaurus, a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award winner; and In Memory of Gorfman T. Frog, named to the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list. She has also written for the Rainbow Fish & Friends picture book series based on the bestselling work of Marcus Pfister. Donovan lives on the coast of Maine, where she jumps in the ocean all year round. She has shared her home with a dozen birds, a few dogs, a rat, and a cat named Cookie. Visit her at GailDonovan.com.
Elysia Case is an illustrator from the Finger Lakes region of New York. When she’s not making things, she can be found spoiling her pets with too many treats and annoying them with too many kisses. Follow her on Instagram @Elyvescent.
Elysia Case is an illustrator from the Finger Lakes region of New York. When she’s not making things, she can be found spoiling her pets with too many treats and annoying them with too many kisses. Follow her on Instagram @Elyvescent.