Mutt's Promise

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0525427783 ISBN 13: 9780525427780

Publisher: Dial Books, 2016

Fans of The Incredible Journey and Old Yeller will love this endearing, page-turning dog adventure story
 
Luna is a farm puppy who loves to dance, and has only known a happy, serene life surrounded by her mother, Mutt, and her siblings, and cared for by Gilberto, the son of farm workers. But now Gilberto and his parents have moved on, and Mr. Thomas the farmer doesn't feel he can take care of a whole family of dogs. He finds new homes for the puppies, not realizing that the man who took Luna and her brother does not have their best interests at heart. Luna and Chief, hungry and scared, are trapped in the smelly barn of a puppy mill—until they take matters into their own paws and find a way to escape. But can Luna and Chief find their way home?
 
With a lovable cast of animal characters and endearing illustrations, this charming story is a perfect read-aloud for fans of classic children’s novels like Gentle Ben, A Cricket in Times Square, and Shiloh.

About the Author:

Julie Salamon is the author of several award-winning books for adults, including Wendy and the Lost Boys. Her writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and more. She lives in Manhattan with her family.

Jill Weber has illustrated numerous books for children and adults, including The Story of Hanukkah, Sydney Taylor Book Award winner The Story of Passover, and New York Times bestseller The Christmas Tree, which was written by Julie Salamon. Jill lives on a farm in New Hampshire.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4–6—After a stray dog, Mutt, saves his pet cat from an attack, Mr. Thomas invites Mutt to stay on his farm. She is very much loved by Gilbert, the son of the farm's migrant worker. Soon, Mutt gives birth to four puppies; Gilbert adores them all, especially the one he names Luna. But his family must move on. The puppies grow and become more aware of their mother's courage and optimistic outlook. Two of the pups are adopted to good homes, but Mr. Thomas is bullied by the owner of a puppy mill into giving over the others, Chief and Luna. The puppies manage to escape the terrible mill and after an arduous journey are found by workers from a pet rescue organization. They recover from their ordeal and are adopted by Marty, an animal trainer. Chief proudly becomes a police dog, and Luna becomes a media star, but she won't be truly happy until she is reunited with Gilbert once again. The story is written in short sentences with a clear message about puppy mills, pet rescue organizations, and the bond between humans and dogs. The book is illustrated with childlike drawings in graphite and charcoal whose tones, ranging from light to very dark, are effective in communicating the narrative. VERDICT Dog lovers, especially those who prefer a tale that is easy to read and has a happy ending, will enjoy this upbeat book.—Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC