The Blue House Dog

Gr 1—4—A boy mourning the death of his dog watches a neighborhood stray whose blue house was torn down. Everyone says the skinny dog that Cody calls Bones is nothing special, but first-person free verse and oil paintings indicate that he will help the child heal. Although the dog still cries softly when he passes the site of the old blue house "where the old man stopped living," Bones trusts Cody. He stays in the boy's house a little longer each day, takes walks with Cody, and eventually accepts a new name, Blue, and a blue bandana to wear around his neck. As the physical distance between boy and dog closes, the realistic illustrations gradually include more light and brighter colors. This gentle story may help pet owners following a loss and also illuminates the caring qualities that lead to trust, healing, and friendship.—Julie R. Ranelli, Queen Anne's County Free Library, Stevensville, MD