  | Lucky dog comes home Author: Spray, John | |
| Price: $23.26 | ||
Summary:
When George returns home from WWII, he would have never imagined he could be the one to restore joy in his grieving town. A story about hope, community, and overcoming loss.
| Illustrator: | Ritchie, Scot |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (09/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 08/18/2025 An animal-loving veteran builds community in this straight-talking tale. Growing up in Indiana, pale-skinned George has a remarkable affinity with the family dairy farm’s creatures-he’s frequently trailed by "the two milking goats, the noisy donkey, a duck with her brood, and some curly-tailed pigs." But when war arrives, he leaves for "strange, freezing forests, and bombed-out buildings... shooting and being shot at." After the war, learning that the family farm has been sold prompts his becoming a mail carrier, and the neighborhood’s hounds begin following him, forming a "daily dog parade." The event amuses everyone except one "sad and lonely" grieving mother-until George makes an animalian delivery that helps her to cope. Spray’s voice has a conversational quality that makes the story feel like firsthand family lore, while Ritchie’s loosely sketched cartoons capture home as a place of comfort. Background characters are shown with various skin tones. Ages 5-8. (Nov.) - Copyright 2025
