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Summary
Summary
A timeless tale of friendship by New York Times bestselling author Amy Hest.
Once there was a small dog with
crooked ears. He belonged to no one.
And once there was a wisp of a girl
named Lia. . . .
The dog who belonged to no one spent
his days quite alone. . . . He longed for a friend.
No one takes notice of a small dog with crooked ears who doesn't have a home. He explores the narrow streets and wide boulevards every day, while across town a little girl named Lia pedals on her bicycle alone, delivering breads and cakes. Both dream of finding a friend, until fate brings them together.
With lyrical text by New York Times bestselling author Amy Hest and tender watercolors by illustrator Amy Bates, The Dog Who Belonged to No One introduces readers to two timeless characters who will touch hearts as they discover how they belong to each other.
Author Notes
Children's book author Amy Hest was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a children's librarian in the New York Public Library system and in the children's book publishing industry. She has written over thirty children's books, many of which included family and intergenerational themes. She is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and a winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 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 (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Hardworking girl meets scruffily cute mutt. Book design, with vintage type and text boxed like silent-movie title cards, combines with Bates's elegant watercolors to give readers an immediate period feel. The small brown-and-white "dog with crooked ears" curiously wanders the streets while a somber little girl named Lia works hard at her family's bakery on the edge of town. She delivers fresh baked goods every Sunday on her bicycle, as difficult and exhausting as it sounds, and one Sunday, it starts to rain. Lia pedals home quickly, and the dog races through the storm to find a comfy niche. They nearly collide but, following an instinct, the dog dashes ahead to the bakery, where both are given food and warm towels. From then on, Lia has a faithful companion. Careful parallel storytelling and beautifully paced page turns allow both text and illustrations to develop the characters, establishing both worth and loneliness, so the inevitable happy ending satisfies thoroughly. It's a warm, well-appointed tale; both author and illustrator show a keen eye for detail. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* A wisp of a girl named Lia and a small alley dog are the principal players in this touching story. The friendly dog wanders about town, but no matter how helpful he is, no one ever pays him much attention. Lia is a lonesome girl who dreams up stories to serve as friends as she goes about her day. A fierce storm propels the two toward a serendipitous meeting, to the delight of both, and thereafter they belonged to each other. The pencil-and-watercolor artwork is homey and handsome, presented in glowing sepia tones that suggest simpler times and quieter lives, until the storm washes the pages in deep and forbidding grays. Throughout the book, the little pup is irresistibly, almost heartbreakingly cute too cute to stay unloved for long. The lesson, that you may not know you're missing something until you find it, makes this simple and eloquent story especially suitable for children who hold out hope for the day when that perfect dog will cross their paths and warm their own homes.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2008 Booklist
