Illus. in full color. "In this gentle, moving story, Elfie, a dachshund, and her special boy progress happily through life together. One morning Elfie does not wake up. The family grieves and buries her. The watercolor illustrations, tender and warm in color and mood, suit the simple text perfectly."--School Library Journal.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2 In this gentle, moving story, Elfie, a dachshund, and her special boy progress happily through life together. When she is young, Elfie is full of pep and pranks; but as her master grows taller and taller, Elfie grows fatter and slower. One morning Elfie does not wake up. The family grieves and buries her, and the boy refuses a new puppy. He is not yet ready for another pet; but when he is, he will tell that one, as he told Elsie every night, "I'll always love you." The watercolor illustrations, tender and warm in color and mood and cozily rounded in form, suit the simple text perfectly. Elsie's gradual change from a lively mischief-maker to a portly old dog is treated with a sweet humor. Viorst's The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (Atheneum, 1971) and Cohen's Jim's Dog Muffins (Greenwillow, 1984) also treat the loss of a beloved pet with great understanding, but anyone who has or ever had an old dog in the family will be especially touched by this book. Pat Pearl, First Presbyterian Church Library, Martinsville, Va.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Inside Flap
Illus. in full color. "In this gentle, moving story, Elfie, a dachshund, and her special boy progress happily through life together. One morning Elfie does not wake up. The family grieves and buries her. The watercolor illustrations, tender and warm in color and mood, suit the simple text perfectly."--School Library Journal.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
69 of 69 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A boy and his chubby hound, Elfie are the closest friends. They share developmental milestones and secrets. The gentle illustrations show the bond between the two; in one picture, the boy, then barely more than an infant mounts a toilet seat while his dog tinkles on the floor. The parallel between the two and their developmental milestones from pup to dog and from toddler to older child are beautifully chronicled.
As Elfie ages, she is no longer able to romp and play. Her stiffened joints and fatigue are taxed on her advanced age. She is taken to a kindly vet, who says that he cannot treat her, but the best thing to do is make her happy and comfortable.
Elfie eventually dies and the boy sadly buries her after openly sharing his grief. He vows that he will tell every pet he owns that he will always love that animal.
A wonderful book of healing and bonding; truly the best book dealing with the death of a pet that I have come across. I think the message of telling a loved one, human or pet that you will always love them is a lesson worth learning.
Thank you, Mr. Wilhelm!
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By goodoldmac
Format:Paperback
There are some books I think should be in every household, and if you have both children and pets, this is one of them. Dealing with the death of a beloved pet is difficult enough for anyone, let alone a child, but this book helps. In fact, I would recommend this book to adult pet owners as well. Nothing will stop the pain of the loss of course, but "I'll Always Love You" helps bring back the happiness and lets the healing begin. I have been a booster of this book for years and hope it NEVER goes out of print. Do yourself a favor and buy this warm story of Effie, "the best dog in the whole world" and her boy....
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a little girl I read this book when my dog was dying. It truly helped me deal with his death and realize that is okay to be sad. It is a wonderful tool to help children understand death a bit better. Few books since my childhood have made such an impression on me as this one, and it is the only book from my childhood I still keep on my shelf as a college student. In fact, my cat grew very sick of cancer and I read this book again to make myself feel better about the situation. And I have never forgotten to utter Hans Wilhelm's words into my pets' ears. And right before my cat died, I whispered "I will always love you" just as the little boy in the story did.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
As a librarian and a mother, I have used this book many, many times and recommended it often to deal with death - not just the death of a pet, but also the death of someone close. It was such a comfort to my son when our neighbor died because he was very young and had never experienced death before. He was confused as he had prayed for our neighbor for so long, but didn't know if he could continue to pray for him, or love him, or talk about him. It was a book that we read over and over again. As a librarian, it is a book that I can recommend with confidence and each time I do, the response is most favorable. I have had to repeatedly reorder the book - some children cannot bring themselves to returning it. It becomes their "warm fuzzy" when thinking about death. Thank you Mr. Wilhelm!
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I got this book to help my daughter deal with the loss of our dog who had become sick and had to be put down. I liked the way the book was to the point and very sweet at the same time. The book also stays away from taking a religious stand point which I was greatful for. My daughter is too young to have to deal with that aspect of life or death. This book teaches that sometimes something you love will go away forever, but even though they are gone, you can always love and remember them.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Elfie and her owner are best friends. They run together, play together, and sleep together. But, as her owner is growing up, Elfie is growing old; and round. She doesn't quite have as much energy as before. Instead of running, she prefers to rest. The family takes Elfie to see the vet, but sadly, the vet says that there's nothing that he can do for Elfie. She's just getting old. The boy now carries Elfie up to bed each night so she can still sleep with him.
However, one morning, Elfie doesn't wake up. She died during the night. Her family grieves and cries, and they bury her in the back yard. The little boy's neighbor offers him one of his new puppies, but he refuses. He wishes to honor Elfie's memory. He does proclaim that when he gets a new pet, he'll always say "I'll always love you".
Our family has a terminally ill dog, and a dear friend loaned us this great book to help our children deal with her impending death. I was moved to tears as I read this book. I could easily relate to what the family in the book was going through. Pets become members of the family just like children do, and dealing with the loss of a pet can be very difficult. This book teaches the reader that, despite the death of the pet, we should remember all of the good times we shared with the pet.
I give this book my highest recommendation. If your family has suffered the loss of a pet, or has a pet that is very sick like mine, then read this fine book. It will help you prepare for the loss, but it will also remind you to remember the good times you shared with your pet.
However, one morning, Elfie doesn't wake up. She died during the night. Her family grieves and cries, and they bury her in the back yard. The little boy's neighbor offers him one of his new puppies, but he refuses. He wishes to honor Elfie's memory. He does proclaim that when he gets a new pet, he'll always say "I'll always love you".
Our family has a terminally ill dog, and a dear friend loaned us this great book to help our children deal with her impending death. I was moved to tears as I read this book. I could easily relate to what the family in the book was going through. Pets become members of the family just like children do, and dealing with the loss of a pet can be very difficult. This book teaches the reader that, despite the death of the pet, we should remember all of the good times we shared with the pet.
I give this book my highest recommendation. If your family has suffered the loss of a pet, or has a pet that is very sick like mine, then read this fine book. It will help you prepare for the loss, but it will also remind you to remember the good times you shared with your pet.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'll Always Love You
I'll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm was agreat help to my wife and sons recently when our dog died.
Published 8 days ago by tony
5.0 out of 5 stars
good read
get this book !!! i gave it to my daughter when she was second grade, she gave away to her teacher three years later when the teacher's son died who happened to be my daughters... Read more
Published 1 month ago by pamela wright
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book for loss of dog
It was what we needed I help us get over the loss if our dog. Highly recommended worth it we keep reading it.
Published 1 month ago by Twinsmom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this book!
I remember reading this as a child, and still as an adult I love it. Great way to help explain to a child about the loss of a pet.
Published 1 month ago by Bianca King
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
This was one of my childrens favorite book, so I got it for my grand daughter. My daughter was really excited.
Published 2 months ago by Melody Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great baby shower gift
I bought this book along with a child's Bible stories and another book entitled Now One Foot, Now the Other. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Femalefeline Xoch
4.0 out of 5 stars
I'll Always Love You
I read this book when I was a young girl.....it's a wonderful short, simple story about a child loving and loosing their best friend.
Published 2 months ago by Cindy Ford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dealing with death of a pet
Few are the books which might be helpful for a child/children dealing with the death of a pet. This is such a book. All libraries should have this.
Published 2 months ago by Norman A. Kelley
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
very goos book for kids, my friend's grandchild loved it and helped her to understand the dog's life and old age as he was getting older and dying
Published 3 months ago by Robin Rainey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
This was bought for my grandson who had just lost his dog. Very good book. Even made his mother cry for the first time. Buy this one for sure.
Published 3 months ago by Cindy Henson
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