Beach City Indigo — Ruth Francisco

Buster and his canine compatriots fight for their rights against an evil real estate developer, Ivana Moore.

Buster, a happy-go-lucky boxer, runs the Venice West Café, a beat poetry and jazz club in Venice, California. Venice Beach is a special place where humans and dogs live side-by-side as equals, owning property and operating businesses along the boardwalk. The pugs operate the Ferris Wheels, the bull dogs sell T-shirts, and the blood hounds run the gondolas. At night they all hang out at Buster's Venice West Café to listen to beat poetry.

Life is simple and good, until the evil land developer Ivana Moore schemes to pass a leash law and deprive the canines of their rights. Her plan is to confiscate their land and transform the artistic bohemian community into a luxury resort of condominiums and expensive boutiques.

The bulldozers and wrecking balls arrive. Terrified, the dogs flee for their lives. Homeless but not defeated, Buster and his friends come up with a plan to save Venice Beach.

With illustrations. Ages 8 and older, and for dog lovers of all ages.