The Forever Dog [Hardcover]

Bill Cochran (Author), Dan Andreasen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

No one knows exactly what kind of dog Corky is, but if you ask his owner, Mike, the answer is simple: "He's my dog."

Mike and Corky are best friends; they do everything together. In fact they even make a plan. Mike tells Corky that they will always do everything together—forever. It is their Forever Plan.

And it works well. From one year to the next Corky is right there with Mike. Until one day, when Mike comes home from school and Corky isn't there . . . The story of how Mike comes to accept Corky's death forms a simple, poignant portrait of a special friendship that both celebrates the joys of owning a pet and becomes a heartfelt guide for anyone who is coping with the loss of a loved one.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3—The deep friendship between a boy and his dog is lovingly portrayed in warm prose and appealing art. Corky, who "seemed to be built from other dogs' spare parts," and Mike are inseparable, and they plan to be "best friends forever." Cochran gently leads readers through a difficult plot in which Corky dies, and Mike, with the help of his mother, comes to accept that the Forever Plan will have to work in a different way. In the satisfying conclusion, he lets the memory of his dog "all the way into his heart. And it felt warm inside." Andreasen's soft illustrations portray a heartwarming relationship and capture the changing mood of the story from joy and exhilaration to sadness and back again to a subdued happiness and understanding. This book has much to offer to children, not only because they love pets but also because of its sensitive treatment of loss.—Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Corky looks as if he were built from other dogs' spare parts, with short, skinny legs, crooked ears, lots of fur, and a scruffy tail. Corky is Mike's dog and his best friend. In fact, they make a plan and shake on it--they'll be best friends forever. But when Corky suddenly get sick and dies at the vet's, Mike cries. Then, he gets angry because Corky has broken their promise. Mike's mom asks if he remembers how Corky shook hands, fetched, and slept on his head. Would he ever forget those times? "Never!" Then "Corky will be with you forever, it's just different now." This is a compassionate story that will help kids cope with a pet's death and death in general. A highlight is the appealing illustrations. The pictures sensitively reflect Mike's emotions and capture Corky's charm (boy and dog even have the similar characteristics of stand-out ears and a cowlick). An outstanding, realistic addition to books about death and dying. A natural and welcome companion to Judith Viorst's The Tenth Good Thing about Barney (1971).Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060539399
• ISBN-13: 978-0060539399
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless and beautiful, June 7, 2007

By 

Chris (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Forever Dog (Hardcover)

There are always special books we all remember from our childhoods. The Forever Dog will be one your child will never forget. It is brilliantly told, heartwarming, and honest. I challenge any adult to read it without shedding a tear of their own. Death of a pet or even loved one is something that is always so hard to discuss with a child, but this book looks at the everlasting memories and positive side to any loss. Don't make the mistake thinking this is a special book just for when a pet dies. It is a timeless classic that should be a part of every family's library.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for grieving families, April 9, 2008

By 

K. Coletta (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Forever Dog (Hardcover)

My son (a 1st grader) does not like to talk about emotional issues. When our beloved dog died, he didn't say anything about it for 24 hours. The next day I read him this book and we both began crying mid-way through. The lovely story enabled my son to open up and talk about the grief he was feeling. I like the message that we keep the memory of deceased loved ones in our hearts and memories.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Sweet, August 18, 2007

By 

Wantz Upon A Time Reviews (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Forever Dog (Hardcover)

Corky was the best dog ever. Mike got him as a puppy and taught him all he knew. They took walks, Corky slept on Mike's head, and lots of other fun stuff!

One day, Corky got sick and had to go to the veterinarian's clinic. The next morning, Mike's mom had sad news: Corky was too sick for the doctors to save.

Inspired by his own experience, Bill Cochran brings children a gentle story about losing a favorite pet. For many people, this is the first time they must deal with death and grief. As children, it can be hard to understand that a beloved friend isn't going to return, and even more difficult to understand the onslaught of emotions. Cochran's approach takes young readers through the steps without letting on that it's what adults call the "grieving process." All the kids know is that they can identify with how Mike feels about losing Corky, and then see how he comes to accept it.

Hand a box of tissues over with this book when gifting it to a grieving child. Tell them it's perfectly okay to cry, and even a good thing. And if they're not ready, they will be. This is a wonderfully sweet book for such an occasion. Of course, it's a nice story even if there hasn't been a loss, as it can also encourage children to learn compassion toward others who are having a hard time.

I highly recommend THE FOREVER DOG to anyone who has feelings.


Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
08/18/2007


(This review is dedicated to Dandy, Tinker, Chrissy, Dillon, Middie, and Alice.)