Toby

Toby, a lovable white poodle mix, is the star of the story. A boy and his dad, who just moved into a new neighborhood, decide having a dog is a good idea and go to the pound. The boy falls for the quiet-looking Toby. They take him home and Toby doesn’t do much. He appears quite shy. The boy learns to clean up dog messes and reads to figure out how to train Toby. Nothing works. Toby is even afraid of going out into the yard. In time, Toby gets a bit more interactive, but then he damages the dad’s things, and dad questions if Toby is the right dog. Desperate, the boy keeps training and loving Toby. When the boy can’t find his shoe one morning, Toby brings it to him, and they know Toby is the right dog.

This heartwarming story about a new pet that is hesitant about life is based on a true story. Early listeners will be rooting for Toby and the boy. The author/illustrator captures the characters’ love, fears, and hesitations and shows how even dogs sometimes take a while to warm up to new friends.