The Stray Dog: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner

by Marc Simont

Book Overview

"This picture book has all the earmarks of a classic. Simont gets it all right." -- The Horn Book (starred review) Caldecott Medalist Marc Simont's heartwarming tale of a stray dog is told with tender simplicity and grace. When a little dog appears at a family picnic, the girl and boy play with him all afternoon, and they name him Willy. At day's end they say good-bye. But the dog has won their hearts and stays on their minds. The following Saturday...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060289333
• ISBN13: 9780060289331
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 10.7"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

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!

Heartwarming and not at all schmaltzy

Anyone with a soft spot for animals will love this colorful picture book about a charming stray dog and the family that can't get him off their minds even after they leave him to fend for himself in a park.Of course they go back to the park to look for him, and they find him just in the nick of time. I love the way the quick-thinking boy and girl fashion a collar and leash for the dog out of their own clothing, claiming him as their own before the nasty dogcatcher can nab him. My heart is doing happy little flips just thinking about it!

We just love this book!

I have a young daughter, and this is our most favorite book! It is a sweet, brief, gentle story that reminds me of the picture books I read as a child, and I am so thrilled to see that it just won a Caldecott Honor! The artwork is some of the most beautiful art I have ever seen in a children's book, and the story of two children who adopt a frightened little dog is just what I want to be sharing with my child in these troubled times. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

A wonderful book for all to see and read.

An animal lover's delight-a stray dog finds a loving family and a home. People of all ages will enjoy this heartwarming story of this precious little dog, Willy and very charming illustrations-a great gift for anyone. Truly touching, with humor and a tear.

Love at First Sight

One Saturday a very nice family of four go to the park for a picnic and find a straggly stray pup. They name him Willy and spend the day playing with him. When it's time to pack up and go, the children want to take Willy home with them, but their parents tell them no, Willy probably belongs to someone else and they sadly leave him behind. The next week is excruciatingly long and whole family spends it thinking about Willy. When Saturday comes, they go back to the park on the pretense of another picnic, but are really hoping to find Willy. Just when they think they'll never see him again, he appears, in the dog catcher's net. Happily, the family claims him...Willy's found a new home and they've found a new pet..... Award winner, Marc Simont has written a lovely, gentle, true to life story that will capture your family's heart. His simple and straighforward text is only outdone by his very detailed and expressive artwork. While looking at these illustrations, youngsters will actually feel the joy of finding this little furry friend, sense the sadness of leaving him behind and worry, right along with the family, about his welfare. This is a terrific picture book, perfect for kids aged 3-7, your entire family can share and a wonderful addition to all home libraries.