"This picture book has all the earmarks of a classic. Simont gets it all right." --The Horn Book (starred review)

Caldecott Medalist Marc Simont's heartwarming tale of a stray dog is told with tender simplicity and grace.

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 dog catcher is looking for him, too

Awards for this book include: Caldecott Honor Book * New York Times Best Illustrated Book * ALA Notable Children's Book * Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book * Amazon.com Editors' Pick * School Library Journal Best Book * New York Public Library's "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing"

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 01/09/2001
ISBN: 9780060289331
Pages: 32
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 10.70h x 8.80w x 0.40d
Award: Georgia Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Parents Choice Award (Spring) (1998-2007) - Winner
Award: Children's Books of Distinction Awards - Winner
Award: Red Clover Award - Nominee
Award: Caldecott Medal - Honor Book

Review Citations: Kirkus Review - Children 11/15/2000 pg. 1619
Publishers Weekly 12/04/2000 pg. 72
Horn Book Magazine 01/01/2001 pg. 86
Booklist 01/01/2001 pg. 974
School Library Journal 02/01/2001 pg. 106
New York Times 10/21/2001 pg. 30
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2001 pg. 274 - Outstanding, Noteworthy In Style
ALA Notable Children's Books 03/15/2002 pg. 1234
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2001 pg. 274 - Outstanding, Noteworthy In Style

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 45453 / Stray Dog: From a True Story by Reiko Sassa
Reading Level: 1.7 / Interest Level: Lower Grade / Point Value: 0.5