The Dog Chapel: Welcome All Creeds, All Breeds. No Dogmas Allowed (Hardcover)

by Stephen Huneck (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
In gloriously exuberant woodcuts and sweetly charming text, artist and author Stephen Huneck tells the story of The Dog Chapel, the real-life, complete-with-a-steeple chapel he built on a hill in Vermont to celebrate the love and friendship we enjoy from our canine friends. After an introduction in which he explains how he came to build the dog chapel, Huneck provides photos of its serene, doggy-friendly interior--including pews carved with dog images for the humans, and comfy mats and doggy doors for four-legged visitors. The heart of the book offers witty illustrations and touching "bites" of wisdom for dog lovers of all ages: "To bring your dog joy, put on your jacket and grab a leash!" and "You can trust a dog with your life... but not with your lunch." At the back of the book a tear-out frame is included, and readers are invited to send their dog photo and messages to the chapel for inclusion in its Remembrance Wall. Huneck dedicates the book to his beloved, now departed black Lab Sally, the "star" of three previous books in which she ventured to the beach, to the mountains, and to a farm. --Judy Fireman

From Publishers Weekly
In his preface to this lovely hand-drawn paean to a real-life construction project, Huneck, author of the beloved Sally-based children's books, explains how his canine church came to be. When Huneck fell victim to Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome after breaking some ribs, he had a near death experience in which a dog-headed figure came to him, and sold him a fantastic dog sculpture that seemed to contain the secrets of life itself. When Huneck, against predictions, recovered, he was seized with the idea of building a dog chapel on his "Dog Mountain" spread in Vermont. He began construction in 1997, and the eight pages of color photos here show a dignified New England structure as enjoyed by canine denizens. But the real impression of the book is made by Huneck's signature prints and captions ("If your dog is your guru, you could do a lot worse")-featuring dogs of various breeds and deeply empathetic miens. Few of them seem to involve the chapel itself, making the book somewhat disjointed, but beautiful blocks of color and careful hatching work make for wonderful canine tableaux: dogs as portrait sitters, children's companions, objects of affable affection, guide workers, and angels. Even the most jaded cat lovers will have trouble dismissing it.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 4th edition (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810934884
• ISBN-13: 978-0810934887
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #169,351 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful and Philosophical Book For Dog Lovers, September 13, 2004

By	Tucker Andersen (Wall Street) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

While attending a conference in Vermont, I was fascinated by several woodcuts of dogs by folk artist Stephen Huneck which were displayed in a local craft store. The ones which particularly caught my interest involved labrador retrievers engaged in simple tasks which captured the essence of the breed, e.g. loyalty, friendliness, joyfulfulness, and perserverance. I then noticed that the artist also had published three children's books incorporating woodcuts of his black Labrador retriever Sally at the beach, in the mountains, and on the farm. However, the book to which I was drawn both by the storyline and the pictures supplementing and illustrating the text was THE DOG CHAPEL. I learned that the author and his wife in fact live in St. Johnsbury, VT with their four dogs and that he has constructed THE DOG CHAPEL on his farm as a place that welcomes visitors of "all creeds [and] all breeds, [but with] no dogmas allowed".

The preface briefly and movingly describes the near death experience which transformed the artist's (because that is the real occupation of this author) life and led to the construction of the chapel. The book is also movingly dedicated to Sally, the black Lab and his constant companion who helped nurse him back to health after he miraculously awoke from his coma but was unable to speak or move. During his recuperation, he was inspired (or as he puts it, he had the wild idea) to build the chapel to commemorate and share with others "the messages my dogs have taught me about the nature of love, joy, friendship, play, trust, faith, and peace". The next several pages of the book consist of gorgeous photographs of both the interior and exterior of the chapel. They succeed in capturing its simple beauty in the marvelous setting of the Vermont hills. There are simple stained glass windows and wonderful woodcarvings (the artist also is a sculptor and artisan who fashions hand carved furniture), as well as the accommodations being enjoyed by both human beings and their dogs. ( Of course, the chapel has its own dog door.) The remainder and overwhelming majority of the book is then devoted to woodcuts illustrating the various attributes and encapsulating the sort of experiences which lead to the deep bond which forms between people and their dogs.

This is a book to be savored and repeatedly enjoyed. It is the sort of book to be left on the table next to your favorite chair so you can open it up and smile at the pictures which capture the essence of some of your favorite moments with your dog. It can also serve to ease the deep pain from the loss of a canine companion. Finally, it will then be conveniently at hand for the enjoyment of any guests who also happen to be doglovers. (Of course, given the prominence of retrievers in Huneck's artwork the book probably had some extra added attraction for me since we currently own a black Lab mix and a Golden Retriever and still mourn the death several years ago of our yellow Lab - Great Dane mix.) Although the price might seem a little expensive for such a slim volume, the cover and the binding are of high quality and the pages display the artwork to great advantage. I highly recommend this book, and as the commentary accompanying one of the illustrations suggests, after buying the book "if you feel that you are too old to play, [perhaps your next task should be to] buy a ball and a dog to go with it".

Tucker Andersen

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dog Chapel, November 17, 2002

By	sandi martin (salt lake city, utah USA) - See all my reviews

Mr. Hunek conveys the power of the animal/human bond through beautiful photos of the chapel and whimsical woodcuts that describe the characteristics of our canine companions. The book tells how this unique chapel came to be built following the authors critical illness. As the sign outside the chapel says, "All breeds and all creeds welcome. No dogma allowed". This book would make a cherished gift for all dog lovers regardless of their religious or spiritual beliefs.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars no one understands dogs like Steven Huneck, December 12, 2002

By	Amy "amy14451" (Shakopee, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This book is amazing. I recently lost my beloved companion of 9 years, and when I saw this book I had to buy it. I am proud to say I'm originally from Vermont and have been a fan of Steven Huneck for years. He has outdone himself with "The Dog Chapel." The illustrations and simple phrases reflect the love between a dog and his person. I miss my friend, but Huneck's book has helped me to grieve and heal.