A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 178

Picture Book: The Stray Dog

Author & Illustrator: Marc Simont from a true story by Reiko Sassa

Summary: On a family picnic, 2 children discover a stray dog and play with him. They name him Willy. When it is time to go, the children want to take him home, but the parents fear Willy belongs to someone nearby. All week each family member misses Willy. On Saturday they return to the park hoping to meet Willy again. Willy does come, but he runs quickly past their picnic table because he is being chased by a dog catcher. Willy is caught. When the dog catcher declares that Willy has no collar or leash, the children take off their belts and declare that his name is Willy. They take Willy home, clean him up, and introduce him to their neighborhood’s dogs. Willy easily settles into his new home.

Hanna’s Comments: Books about adoption, both pet adoptions and adoptions of children, relate easily to the heart of the Abrahamic faiths in which caring for orphans is not only a mandate but an extension of the hospitable love we see affirmed in our scriptures. This book speaks specifically to our human desire to help and even rescue those who are in dire circumstances. This is the best human beings can give one another, and this book offers a fun way to talk about such an important subject.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins, 2001

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: Audio CD, There is an amateur video on Youtube.com.

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, adoption, affection, animals, choices/decisions, chosen, emotions/feelings, exclusion/inclusion, family, found, gladness/happiness, grace, guilt, homelessness, hospitality, image of God, kingdom of God/reign of God, mistakes, orphans, pets, play, pleasing God/the Shema, prevenient grace, regret/repentance,  rescue, safe place/sanctuary

Scripture Connections: Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17); whoever welcomes a little child welcomes me (Matthew 18:5); adoption through Jesus (Galatians 4:5 & Ephesians 1:5)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children when talking about Jesus’ inclinations to include or heal those who were powerless, weak or outsiders such as children, women, the sick or handicapped, and Gentiles.