Customer Reviews

The Dog Who Belonged to No One

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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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...)

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.

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

introduces the reader to two delightful characters: one human and one canine. They are both alone in different ways. Lia, a "wisp of a girl", is an only child. She lacks siblings.

No name dog is homeless, albeit good-hearted; nobody wants him and nobody pays any attention to him as he wanders from city to city, managing to live on scraps and good luck. He doesn't know where he's going. He only knows that he longs "for a friend."

When a horrendous rainstorm brings the two together, strictly by chance, fortunes turn for both of them. The reader breathes a sigh of relief at this happy ending. And happy it is when love finally wins out when "a wisp of a girl" and a "small dog with crooked ears" (and crooked they are) belong to each other from then on.

This book is so moving and heart-warming in its tenderness and eloquent simplicity that any child or adult could hardly help from being affected by it feeling-wise.

The author, Amy Hest, has the knack of choosing just the right words, and once in a while she forays into poetic prose that is quite beautiful. The striking illustrations by Amy Bates, in colors of russet, tan and sometimes a tinge of blue (by using pencil and watercolor) are unforgettable.

This is one of my favorite children's books that I have ever read. It's compassionate message would be important for all children.

Sometimes it's the illustrations that grab you, sometimes the story, but this is one of those magical books where the story and the artwork are both brilliant! We are an animal-loving family, so we especially loved this simple story of a sweet dog and a sweet girl brought together by luck (or was it fate?). The pup himself is so darling that we wanted to jump in the pages and scoop him right out. The pacing is perfect - you see the dog needing a friend, while the girl passes through the same streets, also needing a friend. A storm creates a dismal scene for both, but quickly gives way to a very happy ending. The warmth of the family that takes the dog in spills out of the pages: you can smell the bread baking in their oven and feel the warm towels that they wrap around their daughter and the dog. I loved how the girl and the dog have these almost parallel experiences unbeknownst to each other, and then finally come together.

My 7, 9 and even 12 year-old enjoyed this story as a family read-aloud. It invites great questions and discussion about caring for animals, but also about being open to surprises, thinking about how someone/something else might be experiencing the same things that you are experiencing (a long journey, a storm, a lonely night), and the importance of resilience (what if the dog had given up on people?). Few words make it a quick read that young children can sit through, but it's not shallow or simple, so older kids can enjoy it, too. We love the library, but this is one you need to own!

The book arrived in good time and in excellent condition. I can't wait to share it when I visit classrooms and talk about pet responsibility. The theme fits in so very well with our animal shelter concept--love between a girl who wants a dog and a dog who wants a home.