Marvelously talented author and illustrator Jim LaMarche turns to man's best friend in this picture-book collection of three dog stories. In Molly we see a young girl and her faithful canine companion head into the woods, after the girl is given a time out by her exasperated mother. When the girl can't find her way home again, Molly steps in to help. In Ginger, a boy and his father go for a hike in the woods with the boy's beloved dog, who goes missing and can't be found. Leaving his jacket for Ginger to sleep on, the boy reluctantly leaves, returning the following day to find his best friend waiting for him. In Yuki, a young boy finds a stray dog, and longs to adopt him, only to be told by his unemployed mother that they can't afford a pet. When Yuki's owner comes to reclaim him, she offers a number of things that the boy and his mother have been needing...

I enjoyed both the stories and the artwork in Lost and Found: Three Dog Stories immensely, finding the former heartwarming and the latter gorgeous. Tales of animals being lost and finding their way home are almost guaranteed to find an appreciative audience with me, but LaMarche's three stories here explore how animals help us, as human beings, both to find and to make our homes. The result is a selection of stories that tug at the heartstrings, and leave the reader with a happy, satisfied feeling at the end. The illustrations, done in acrylic washes and colored pencil, are as lovely as one would expect, given LaMarche's track record. Soft-edged but clear, perfectly capturing the emotional register of each scene, and the changing moods of both people and dogs, these paintings are a joy to peruse. Of course, as a fox lover, my favorite scene was the one in which Molly chases away a fox while her girl is sleeping, but all of the pictures were beautiful. Recommended to young dog lovers, to picture-book readers who enjoy animal stories, and to fellow fans of Jim LaMarche. ( )

including three stories about how dogs have been lost, helped people who are lost. a great story for introducing how dogs can help and be an important part of our families.
3 books

Three stories about being lost, being found, finding home, and, most importantly, about the dogs that help us find the way.

Artist Jim LaMarche did it again! He wrote and illustrated yet another stunningly beautiful book. Broken into three sections, each tells a compelling tale of the importance of, and the love we feel for our pets.

In the first story, a stubborn little girl is angry at her mother. She vows to run away and takes her dog Molly with her. After walking, walking and walking in the woods, as the light is fading, the little girl realizes she is lost. With no knowledge of where to go, she counts on Molly to lead her home.

The second tale is about a little boy who loves his dog Ginger. When hiking with his father, Ginger runs after an animal. After calling and calling to no avail, they must leave for home and Ginger is sadly left behind. The little boy places his sweater on the ground so that Ginger might feel safe if she wanders back. The next morning, bright and early, the father and son come back to the site and find Ginger.

Lastly, a lonely boy whose mother is struggling financially finds a lost dog. Immediately, the little boy feels better knowing he has company in this troubling time. When Yuki's owner is found, the little boy is heart broken. A lovely ending occurs.

This story was not the greatest writing. I would not recommend it for other teachers. It had confusing starts to each of the three individual stories included in the book.