Second grader Grace's Aunt Lily is a writer with whom Grace spends a lot of time because her parents are so busy. Is Grace a writer too? She's learned some great words from Aunt Lily, and some things about writing from listening in when Aunt Lily's writing group meets, but she doesn't think of herself as a writer. Aunt Lily, in the meantime, is struggling with writer's block. Thinking an assistant might help, she places an ad and ends up hiring Rex, a dog belonging to a magician. Rex can't talk, of course. But he can read, and type on a computer. His calm presence and the inspirational quotes he finds online help get Lily back on track and inspire Grace to do some writing of her own. Just as Rex is far from a typical dog, Grace is far from a typical seven-year-old in this whimsical outing that never explains the magic of Rex, which only adds to its charm. Grace and her family are white in this story featuring occasional black-and-white illustrations. (Ages 7-9)