The Blue House Dog — Deborah Blumenthal

All day and night in sun and rain and snow, a stray dog wanders the streets of a neighborhood after its devoted owner has died. No one takes much notice of the thin, unremarkable animal that some people call Bones. No one except the narrator, a young boy, who takes an interest in the dog's well being.

The boy feeds Bones scraps of meat and watches out for the dog's safety. One day the boy's fast action stops a car from hitting the dog. Bones reminds him of his own dog Teddy the one he loved and who died. As the young boy reaches out to help Bones, the dog slowly begins to trust him. The two form a strong attachment that ultimately leads to mutual ownership as each finds companionship and solace in the other.

Readers will be deeply affected by Deborah Blumenthal's story of love, loss, and love regained and will easily empathize with the narrator, sharing his concern for an animal in need. Adam Gustavson's full-color illustrations reveal the shadows and light, as well as the quiet drama, of neighborhood life, and the emerging relationship between the narrator and the lonely, dispirited dog that captures his attention, and finally, his heart.