The Dog Who Belonged to No One - Hardcover

Amy Hest is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Kiss Good Night as well as When Jessie Came Across the Sea, for which she was the recipient of the Christopher Medal. She lives in New York City. Amy Bates is the illustrator of Hair for Mama, Pumpkin Cat, and the Adventures of Tom Sawyer early reader series. She lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Starred Review. Grade 1–3—In this old-fashioned tale, two lonely souls set out on a heartfelt quest to find a true friend. A chipper little dog with crooked ears, who is "a perfectly nice fellow," travels from town to town looking for "a porch with a soft light" and hoping one day to belong to someone. At the same time, "a wisp of a girl" named Lia spends her Sundays on her bicycle, delivering her parents' baked goods throughout the town. She pedals up high hills past other children playing outside and tells herself stories to offset her sense of isolation. "The stories were like friends on her long ride to town." On a stormy day, both Lia and the dog are caught in a drenching rain. The pup runs and runs while the girl pedals and pedals through the bad weather, each racing toward the edge of town where Lia's parents wait on their softly lit porch. Lia and the little dog rush inside where they find bread and cake and warm towels. So begins a lasting friendship. The pencil and watercolor illustrations, featuring a palette of golden earth tones, echo the gentle sentiment of the narrative. Lia in her blue dress, pinafore, and jaunty cap and the bright-eyed little dog evoke tender sympathy. Pair this sweet title with Jill Newsome's Night Walk (Clarion, 2002).—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
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