Stubby: A True Story of Friendship

by Michael Foreman, Michael Foreman (Illustrator)

Overview

Stubby was a brave soldier, a loyal friend . . . and a dog. From an army training camp to the trenches in France, this is the incredible true story of Sergeant Stubby, the dog who served bravely in World War I—sniffing out gas attacks, catching spies, and winning the hearts of his fellow soldiers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541560642
Publisher:	Andersen Press USA
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	49 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 8 Years

About the Author

Michael Foreman is an award-winning author. He has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and has been the UK nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award twice. His books are published all over the world. He lives in the UK.

Editorial Reviews

"[T]his compelling story of a brave dog and his soldier companion is a timeless tale of friendship . . ."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

★ 02/01/2019

PreS-Gr 3—Based on the true story of an extraordinary dog's exploits in World War I, this fictionalized account is told by Stubby's human friend, Robert Conroy. The soldier recalls how he adopted the stray dog who wandered into training camp and smuggled him on board a troop ship to France. In the trenches, Stubby put his excellent hearing and sense of smell to work to guard the troops, warn soldiers of impending gas attacks, and even catch a German spy. When Stubby was wounded by shrapnel, Conroy carried him from the battlefield so medics could tend to him. Not only did Conroy and Stubby survive but the dog was also hailed as a hero, leading a victory parade after their return to the United States. A photo of Stubby in his army jacket, which was sewn by French women and decorated with medals and badges, accompanies Foreman's historical note at the end. The illustrations depict wounded soldiers, bursting shells, and bleak trenches and landscapes, which may upset some young readers. Yet the violence is not overwhelming. In images of battles or peace time, Stubby is the focus, his friendly, alert face drawing readers into the narrative. Conroy's admiration for Stubby's loyalty, intelligence, and courage shines through this account of a unique friendship. Ann Bausum's Stubby the War Dog, a straightforward history for older readers, features numerous photographs for those wanting to learn more. Stubby has been the subject of other books, plus an animated movie released in 2018. VERDICT Although the centennial observances of World War I are complete, this compelling story of a brave dog and his soldier companion is a timeless tale of friendship worth considering for most collections.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato

School Library Journal

2019-01-15

This true story of a stray dog that became a decorated war hero was first published in England to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I.

The smell of cooking attracts many stray dogs to the soldiers' training camp, but one particular dog finds one particular soldier, and the two become inseparable. "An odd little dog with a flat face and short legs," he is dubbed Stubby. Endearingly portrayed with big eyes and a let's-play expression, Stubby goes off to Europe with his new soldier friend, the unnamed narrator of the story. Stubby marches, holes up in trenches, becomes a guard dog, wears a gas mask, and is injured on the battlefield. Stubby goes home a hero and leads the great victory parade, wagging his hero's tail in this hero's tale. Though he has created a darling of a canine protagonist, Foreman doesn't shy away from the realities of war, vividly depicting villages in ruins, bullets "zipping and whistling around," injured soldiers, and Stubby himself "covered in mud and blood, his eyes full of pain." Except for an occasional face in a cheering crowd, all characters are white. While Foreman makes the tale universal, the backmatter fills in specific details: The soldier's name was Robert Conroy, the training camp was in Connecticut, and the fighting was in France.

A heartwarming tale indeed. (Picture book. 5-10)

Kirkus Reviews