Abby [Paperback]

W. HSnel (Author), A. Marks (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

Abby the dog is Moira's best friend, and when she accidentally is poisoned, Moira tends to her all through the day and night, even after everyone else has given up hope for her recovery.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4. Moira and her family live on a small island off the Irish coast. Abby is Moira's dog and her best friend. Together they watch clouds, sit on the cliffs above the beach, and wave when fishing boats pass by. One day when the girl returns from school, Abby is nowhere to be found. When the dog is carried home by a neighbor, Moira discovers that the pup has eaten poisoned meat intended for some foxes. She stays up all night with Abby, telling her stories and stroking her. The child eventually falls asleep, only to be awakened by Abby licking her face. Moira's love for the animal is pure and understandable to anyone who has ever had a pet. Both text and illustrations depict a beautiful island with hardworking and friendly people. The sweeping pen-and-ink paintings with watercolor washes portray Moira's many feelings as she goes from being happy to sad to relieved. Youngsters who are moving on from easy readers, but still want short books with lots of illustrations, will enjoy this gentle offering.?Elisabeth Palmer Abarbanel, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2^-4. Set on an island off the Irish coast, this fully illustrated story tells of Moira and her dog, Abby, who looks after the goats, keeps the cats out of the house, and is also the girl's best friend. Abby falls ill after eating some poisoned meat set out by a neighboring farmer. As night falls, the grown-ups shake their heads over the motionless dog, but Moira sleeps with her all night and celebrates her recovery when the morning dawns. Readers will feel like celebrating, too, though they may shed a few tears, so effective is this simple story. There are no chapter divisions; however, readers of early chapter books will find this a rewarding choice. The place, the characters, and the emotions ring true in the text and in Marks' sensitive illustrations. Combining deft line drawing and fluid watercolors, the artwork captures the spirit of the story with economy and restraint. Good for reading aloud or alone, this is one of the few books written at this level that is likely to touch the hearts of those who discover it. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 60 pages
• Publisher: North-South (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558586490
• ISBN-13: 978-1558586499
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,421,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book about grieving!, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Abby (Paperback)

When a child loses someone close to her, she has a hard time saying goodbye. In this book, the main charcter loses her dog, Abby. She has a hard time saying goodbye to her beloved friend and companion. This is an excellent book to use to teach children, adolescents, and adults about death and dying- as well as the grieving process. By reading "Abby," one is able to better understand the normal process we as humans go through when someone we love dies.