Product Description

The puppy was small and fuzzy, with a friendly, wagging tail -- and Ricky was afraid of him!

No wonder, since he was attacked by a dog when he was just a baby. So when a stray puppy comes sniffling around the farm, Ricky tells it to get lost.

But the puppy keeps trying to play with Ricky. And every time Ricky's Mom feeds the cats, the little dog comes running. The cats aren't sharing their food, however, and the poor pup is slowly starving.

If Ricky doesn't overcome his fear, the little puppy may die -- but if he lets himself get close enough to feed it, he may find the best friend he's ever had!

Winner of the Texas Bluebonnet, the Oklahoma Sequoyah and the Nebraska Golden Sower Awards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62626 in Books
• Published on: 1992-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780671770815
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5. Bill Wallace's story (Holiday, 1980) of the bonding between a boy and a dog is not to be missed. This presentation, read by L.J. Ganser, is so softly dramatic that it not only captures the essence of gentle emotion but essentially transports readers to the Oklahoma farm where Ricky exhibits courage beyond belief. Ricky is terrified by dogs because as a toddler he was mercilessly mauled by a rabid dog and left to die. Sixty-three stitches later with no anesthesia, Ricky is scarred with the emotional and physical memories that constantly recall his tragedy. The softness of Ganser's voice reflects the softness of Ricky's heart when a puppy is left to starve because he responds with a littler of kittens for food but is rejected. Hence, the name Kitty. Ricky musters all his courage and feeds the puppy, building a closeness that only friends realize and conquering his all-consuming fear. With Ricky, readers suffer the loss and feel the anguish when Kitty is accidentally killed at an oil rig. Hope, however, still prevails and happiness does come through sorrow. Ganser brings life and emotion to a powerful story with his dramatic rendition. This touching and encouraging story add a further dimension to the significance of boy and dog relationships, and should be high on public and school library priority lists.
Patricia Mahoney Brown, Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher
The puppy was small and fuzzy, with a friendly, wagging tail -- and Ricky was afraid of him!

No wonder, since he was attacked by a dog when he was just a baby. So when a stray puppy comes sniffling around the farm, Ricky tells it to get lost.

But the puppy keeps trying to play with Ricky. And every time Ricky's Mom feeds the cats, the little dog comes running. The cats aren't sharing their food, however, and the poor pup is slowly starving.

If Ricky doesn't overcome his fear, the little puppy may die -- but if he lets himself get close enough to feed it, he may find the best friend he's ever had!

Winner of the Texas Bluebonnet, the Oklahoma Sequoyah and the Nebraska Golden Sower Awards.

About the Author
BILL WALLACE was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma where he later spent ten years as a principal and physical education teacher at the same elementary school he attended as a child. Bill still lives in Chickasha with his wife, son, four dogs, three cats, and two horses. The Wallace family spends much of their spare time outdoors fishing, and tending cattle on the family farm. Bill lectures at schools around the country, answers mail from his readers, and of course, works on his books. Bill is now a full-time author and his novels have been a great success -- they have won more than thirty state awards and have made the master lists in seventeen.

Customer Reviews

Young Dog Lovers Beware
Although a very well written book, I would not have allowed my young daughter to read this if I had know the outcome of the story. Young dog lovers beware, that "Kitty" DIES unexpectedly, and tragically toward the end of the story. My daughter loves dogs and cats, and was so distraught by Kitty's death, that she didn't care that the boy finds another dog to begin a friendship with. In fact, I don't know that she even read the last several pages of the book right away, because she was so upset. She is okay with it now, and still likes the book, but as a parent, I wish I would have seen the book summary on this site prior to letting her read it.

One Fine Book!!
A boy named Rick is attacked by a mad dog when he is a baby and never forgets it. Years later a small dog comes out of the barn. Rick is terrified. He has to face his fears or the dog will starve to death. I read this book 2 years ago and I can still remember the whole book. Bill Wallace makes you feel like you are right next to Rick threw the whole book. I could not put the book down and finished it in the middle of the night. This is one book you have to read! I am a huge Bill Wallace fan and I think you will be one too.

Great pick for a bookclub
I heard of this book and wanted to check it out for a bookclub for 4th and 5th graders. After checking out some on-line reviews, many of which were from people who read it when orginally published in the 80's, I decided to use it. What impressed me most about the reviews was that the people who read it back then remember it making a big impression on them and couldn't wait to share it with their children. I have several books I feel that way about so figured if it had such a strong impression it would be worth a shot.

It turned out to be a good call. Most of the children finished it and almost all really liked it. We had a discussion about the fear the main character had of dogs and fears they have. Mnay of them felt a lot of different emotions throughout the book and although it had some diffecult scenes they really liked how the story unfolded and the end of the story.