The Dog Who Belonged to No One [Hardcover]

Amy Hest (Author), Amy Bates (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*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. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ian Chipman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers; Library Binding edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810994836
• ISBN-13: 978-0810994836
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful in its Simplicity, September 12, 2008

By 

Misty C. Rich "Story Fiend" (Norhtern, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dog Who Belonged to No One (Hardcover)

Right away this new release popped out at me from the shelves of the children's book section at my local bookstore and gave a very emotive first impression.

It's artwork: wonderfully expressive pencil illustration by Amy Bates, washed with active yet gentle watercolors matching the hues of the autumn season.

The story: A simple storyline about loneliness and friendship that follows the daily, solitary lives of a little stray dog and a little girl and how they find each other.

The cute pup goes to sleep each night and dreams of having a warm house with a yard and, more importantly, a friend. The girl, who works for her parents in the family bakery, spends her days delivering bread and making up stories to ease her loneliness (this is my personal favorite touch in the storyline).

Each point of view is told simultaneously and keeps it short and sweet, although, to be honest, each piece of moving artwork tells the story just fine all on it's own.

A nice addition to any storybook collection, not to mention anyone who is an admirer of watercolors.

(On a side note: Although the story doesn't exactly touch on it - and it maybe it need not be said - it can also remind the reader that you can find a wonderful companion at your local rescue or animal shelter...)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling picturebook story of a dog who tries to be helpful while he awaits true love and a home, December 13, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dog Who Belonged to No One (Hardcover)

Amy Bates provides engaging drawings for a lovely picturebook in The Dog Who Belonged to No One, telling of a lonely small dog and an equally lonely little girl. Lyrical test and lovely watercolors by illustrator Amy Bates makes for a compelling picturebook story of a dog who tries to be helpful while he awaits true love and a home.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amy Hest belongs to readers!, March 29, 2009

By 

Books Come Alive "Storyreader" (Baldwinsville,, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dog Who Belonged to No One (Hardcover)

I use this one in read-aloud presentations to show kids that the best books make them feel something inside!