Book Review: The Half and Half Dog by Lisa Gross

 

Here's a review of one of the winning entries of the Written and Illustrated By... Awards Contest of 1987.

 

 

This charming book, written by then-twelve year old animal lover Lisa Gross, concerns a(very cute!) little puppy who looks half like a Golden Retriever and half like a Scottie(By contrast to his Golden Retriever and Scottie brothers and sisters). Like kindred spirits Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the poor little fellow is ridiculed for his appearance by people and dogs alike. Along the way, the puppy escapes the pound, visits a meat market, has a mishap with shoe polish in an attempt to disguise himself, and finds and unexpected friend in a gruff but kindhearted bulldog named Max. But will he ever find an owner who will love and accept him for who he is?

 

 

 

My thoughts: This is a very sweet, heartwarming, and beautifully written book. The style in which the book was written is interesting, in that it's much longer than your average picture book, but shorter than your average novel, making it easily accessible to a broad audience, and each illustration's a beaut'. Readers will immediately fall in love with the little puppy and sympathize with his situation, and the story delivers an excellent message about how all of us are beautiful and special the way we are. A top-notch pick for dog lovers everywhere.

 

Buy it on Amazon!

 

 

 

Fun Fact: Author Lisa Gross hadn't actually owned any dogs at the time, owning two cats and two birds instead.