Modern Monday -- The Stray Dog by Marc Simont

Retold and illustrated by Marc Simont,
from a true story by Reiko Sassa
Harper Collins, 2001

I absolutely adore this book. It's easily one of my favorite children's books of all time. It's nothing profound. It's quite simple, actually. But the story is one that most everyone can relate to. The search for belonging, the desire of a family to welcome a little dog into their own. Simont's illustrations drew enough attention to earn him the prestige of being a Caldecott honor, but I truly believe it should have been a medal winner!

The book flap explains the story well,

"When a little dog appears at a family picnic, the girl and boy play with him all afternoon, and they name him Willy. At day's end they say good-bye. But the dog has won their hearts and stays on their minds. The following Saturday the family returns to the picnic grounds to look for Willy, but they are not alone--the dogcatcher is looking for him, too....

Caldecott Medalist Marc Simont's heartwarming tale of a stray dog who finds a home is told with appealing simplicity and grace."

Willy has SUCH personality. I could just eat him up!

Here's the family on their second visit to the park,
with hopes of seeing Willy again.
The father has food set out for Willy and is eyeing it expectantly.

Willy appears, but he has no time to visit with the dog catcher in close pursuit!

This is my FAVORITE image in the book. Sigh.