Hey, Dog: A Sweet Picture Book About a Boy and a Stray Dog

Summary: Hey, Dog

In Hey, Dog a boy finds a stray dog hiding in the bushes in front of his house. The boy instantly cares for the dog, bringing him food and water, worrying about him at night, and repeatedly trying to draw it out of hiding. The dog, obviously abused in the past, is cautions — afraid even. This picture book chronicles the boy’s efforts to love this dog out of trauma.

The Good

Oh, I loved this one. Animal abuse is sadly common and many stray animals are, just like Dog, afraid of human contact. The boy in this story is relentlessly sensitive, loving, and patient with the animal. Other things I loved about this picture book:

A sweet, sensitive male character (always a plus)
The fact that they place ads to find the dog’s owner
Highly realistic plot
The writing. This book would certainly be enjoyed by an older audience as well. On page 10 of my e-ARC, the boy is buying dog food for Dog (with his own money, no less) and asks the storekeeper:

“Is this the healthiest? Is it your best? Is the most luscious?”

The Bad

I did not like the illustration style — just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Overall: Hey, Dog

Hey, Dog is a sweet picture book about the power of love — especially when shown to stray animals. With lyrical text and a true-to-life plot, this book shows that children can be sensitive and that abused animals can love again. I highly recommend this picture book to readers of all ages and anyone who’s ever loved a pet.

Hey, Dog is a sweet picture book about the power of love -- especially when shown to stray animals. I highly recommend this picture book to readers of all ages and anyone who's ever loved a pet @charlesbridge. Click To Tweet

Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of Hey, Dog from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.