A Boy's Best Friend

by Joan Alden

Seven-year-old Will, an asthma sufferer and a target for bullies, finally gets the birhday wish of his dreams. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555832032
• ISBN13: 9781555832032
• Release Date: July 1994
• Publisher: Alyson Books
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 7 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 2 and higher

Customer Reviews

Children's Book Explores Bullies, Asthma, & Two Mom Families

A BOY'S BEST FRIEND takes place in Montreal. Will is turning seven years old and has asked his mother and her partner, Jeanne, for a dog for the past four years. Unfortunately, he has asthma. To his surprise he is given a stuffed dog which he cherishes because he is able to sleep with it, take it to the park to meet other dogs, take it on the school bus, and hide it in his school locker. While at school he is teased by some "bullies" and his dog is thrown up a tree. Miraculously, the dog falls in his arms after he has called to it. His mom and Jeanne are surprised to hear what happens and repeat what Will has heard many times before, "Everyone is different. When you don't mind your difference it stops being a problem and becomes your distinction." The story has a lot of text and is most appropriate for children ages five and older. The illustrations, hand colored black and white photographs, depict wonderful scenes of home life, i.e. eating dinner, trips to the park and bedtime rituals. His family structure is explained and visually depicted, but not a negative aspect of the story. We get a glimpse of what school life is like for Will as he encounters the school bullies, an experience many children perhaps can relate to. Also familiar to many children is the frustration of living with asthma. Will is unable to join in a school ritual of running around the room while the others sing happy birthday to him, he is teased because he cannot play ball and towards the end is coughing and running out of breath after his interactions with the bullies. Unfortunately, asthma is not explained or discussed in a way that will help others understand what it is or why he has it and Will is depicted as a sad and lonely child because of asthma.