"Anna and Molly marched through the tall grass, up a rocky hill, then into the woods. They crossed a creek, climbed over boulders, and hiked into the aspen grove. 'We'll build our own house right here, Molly.' Anna dragged big stones to make some walls. She spread out aspen leaves to make a bed."
If you love, or have ever loved a dog, you need this book. In three stories we meet three wonderful dogs who make life better by being there. In the first story, Anna is mad about a Time Out and determines that she and Molly should head for the hills. All is well until Anna awakens from her nap, is disoriented and needs help getting home again. Molly knows just what to do. In the second, Jules and his Dad take Ginger on a nature hike. Her natural exuberance has Ginger chasing a deer; and then, Jules and his father searching in vain to find her before dark. Jules is sure she will come back but they must go home before she does. He leaves a reminder in hopes that she will find it and stay put. With great delight they are reunited early the next morning. And in the final story Jack finds a starving Yuki and brings him home, begging his Mom for permission to keep him. The answer is No. Jack is distraught, but puts up a poster in hopes that no one will see it and claim Yuki. The days pass, his optimism grows and then one day an elderly woman comes to thank Jack for caring for her much-loved, lost dog. When she sees how connected the two are, she has a suggestion that provides hope for Jack and his mother.
How can you resist? Such heartwarming tales of the love that children have for their four-legged friends and how that love is returned tenfold. I so admire Jim LaMarche's artwork that I look forward to every book he illustrates. I have a collection and thankfully, it is growing. What could be more inviting than the unconditional look of love that graces the cover of this fine book?
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