A sweetly silly story of a little boy and a dog who make an unlikely (but perhaps perfect) pair.
Everyone knows that owners and their dogs belong together in a unique way. Polly belongs to Molly, Eric belongs to Derek, Berry belongs to Terry. But poor Mr. Scruff, alone in the rescue shelter, doesn’t belong to anyone. Then a boy named Jim walks in, and they seem to get along. Jim and Mr. Scruff don’t look anything alike, and their names certainly don’t rhyme, but they may end up belonging to each other just the same. From author-illustrator Simon James comes a warm, winning story about friendship and finding a home.---from the publisher
32 pages 978-1536209358 Ages 3-6
Keywords: dog, friendship, friends, pet, animal rescue, belonging, being included, animals, home, 3 year old, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, diverse books, diversity
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In this day and age when we are working toward inclusivity, it's great to start teaching our youngest members of society about being different and being able to get past those differences. Simon James has written a brilliant, sensitive, tender story about a dog who is being left out. He doesn't belong to anyone. He is alone in the animal shelter.
He's alone until someone really sees him. Someone looks past what everyone else has turned away from. Someone gets to know him even though he is different and finds out they really are meant to be friends. Great friends. They are the kind of friends that just naturally make each other feel seen, liked, and valued for being who they are.
What a great way to begin to break down those walls we build so quickly and so firmly and hold onto so desperately out of fear as we grow older.
Welcome Mr. Scruff and welcome Jim. You are tremendous ambassadors to the world where everyone realizes we are of the tribe called human.
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
