[.ca] The Stray Dog (ISBN 0064436691)

From Amazon.com:
"It was a great day for a picnic," begins Marc Simont's lovely, touching, happy-ending picture book, The Stray Dog. And indeed, judging from the opening spread's clear skies, sparkling water, zooming boats, and adventure-bound cars it looks to be so. The story begins as a scruffy little dog makes an appearance at a family's picnic. The children name him Willy, and by the end of the day they desperately want to take him home. The family drives away, but all week they can think of nothing but their new furry friend. They return to picnic at the same spot the very next week, much to Willy's good fortune--and that of the newly smitten family. As in all the best illustrated children's books, Simont lets his pictures tell the story. We don't have to be told how wrenching it is for the kids to leave Willy behind--we see their small outstretched arms out the car window and the puppy watching them go. Simont doesn't have to tell us that the next Saturday the family is completely preoccupied with the possibility of another Willy sighting. We see the family, silent, munching, and just to the side is a plate of meat they've put out, just in case. Young readers will adore this simple tale of puppy love, but adults will be equally charmed. Simont illustrated his first book in 1939, and since then has illustrated nearly 100 titles, including the 1949 Caldecott Honor Book The Happy Day, by Ruth Krauss and Janice May Udry's A Tree Is Nice, winner of the 1957 Caldecott Medal. This book is our favorite so far of the year! (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

The Stray Dog:
My children(ages 6,4,2) and I love this book. It has a lovely little story with a very nice message. Any parent or child who loves animals, especially dogs, will love this story. The illustrations are lovely too. Highly recommended for children aged 2-8.

Stray thoughts:
Wonderful, imaginative, beautifully illustrated. My ghost-reviewer and alterior reason for buying this book (a.k.a. my daughter) gives it two little thumbs up. She loves it and we keep on reading it to her. This book is a must!

Heartwarming and beautifully illustrated:
There are certain books that I hope my 3-year-old will pick out for me to read to her. You know the type; you move them to her eye level and hope that the power of suggestion works. This is one of those books. The illustrations are so beautiful, I wish I could find the original galleys for the book and frame them. The story is everything that's good in the world: compassionate children, understanding parents and (of course) happy dogs. There was an earlier reviewer who was appalled the story didn't have the parents bring the dog to the SPCA to go through the proper channels for adoption. A nice thought, but I used to volunteer at an animal shelter and I have news for you: If people didn't rescue strays, shelters would be more overcrowded than they are now. The way of the world is 100 abandoned animals come into a shelter for every 1 that is reunited with an owner. With that in mind, "The Stray Dog" is even more touching.

Great!:
I bought this book in a paperback version at a book fair. I heard good things about it and I like Marc Simont's illustrations in other books. I picked it up because it is a Caldecott Honor Book. It turns out to be a beautiful story that everyone in the family will enjoy. It is based on a true story but depicted in a way that children can understand the storyline easily. It shows children that fall in love with a stray and the parents tell the kids that the dog must belong to someone else. Eventually, everyone in the family is thinking about the dog and what happened with him. At the end of the week, they return to find the dog running from the dog catcher. I am not sure if children are familiar with dog catchers but it can lead into a discussion. It shows that the family is willing to take on the responsibility of loving a stray. It shows empathy to animals and caring by kids. Children need to learn love animals but to be careful of stray animals. However, children will be moved by this sweet story and cheer for the dog! I definitely recommend it!

A winner:
This lovely book, a true story, spans several age groups--2 year olds can respond to pictures of the puppy, the family, the picnic, while older kids can relate to missing the dog during the week and the children's successful effort to claim him as their own. The author uses simple enough language for beginning readers without being simplistic, accompanied by excellent color illustrations. The Caldecott prize is well-deserved.