Lucky Boy

I had never heard of this book before I read it yesterday, but it instantly became one of my favoite children's books of all time! The writing was superior, world class, I would say. The characters' emotions were so thoughtfully explored, you could relate to them: the dog, the widower, and even the busy, self-centered family. But, I must say that, despite Robin Gibson's School Library Journal review to the contrary, Boy's family was not excused in any way. Rather, we identify with them in their failings and carelessness and examine our own lives to determine how our words and actions have affected others: a pet, a relative, a needy neighbor to whom we have not been properly attentive. No doubt, Robin Gibson would have liked the book to end with PETA demostrating outside Boy's fence and the family being hauled off to jail, but Susan Boase accomplishes more by engaging the reader with pathos than the School Library Journal ever could with the anti-neglect diatribe they were obviously looking for. This book sends a message of hope that, although your circumstances might not be favorable now, although it may seem that the world has passed you by, a happy ending could be just around the corner. Lucky Boy is a ray of light streaming though the dark clouds of life. It is a must read for children of all ages.

this is the sweetest story. It takes a sad, but realistic situation and turns it into a strong point, teaching children to appreciate their pets and take the time to play with them, take care of them. It also shows how owning a pet enriches your life - loyalty, companionship. The story just melts your heart - and i'm not a heart-melting kind of person! (no worries, in the end it's a happy story!) The drawings are what first attracted me. They're beautiful and so true-to-life. I was chuckling out loud, seeing that the images so resembled the funny poses my own dog gets into. This is a great purchase for any children who have their own pets and for any adult dog (or animal) lover out there. I highly recommend this book!!

The first thing that attracted me to the book Lucky Boy was the artwork - beautiful pencil drawings, gorgeous strokes that create unique patterns and texture within the scenes. The drawings were subtle, not over-the-top cartoons screaming with color. It was a nice change. Then, I read the story, and found it to be a heartwarming tale about a dog and a man, both lonely until they find one another . The story is as gentle as the illustrations. I can't say much for the Gustin family, because as a dog lover, I can't imagine having a dog that I didn't pay attention to. It was almost unbelievable to think that a famiIy could see their missing dog and not run to rescue him. I felt sorry for Boy, so lonely and forgotten in the barren backyard. I was glad when he began to dig, and celebrated when he dug into the yard of Mr. Miller, a person who would never treat him as anything but a very special friend, Bravo to Susan Boase for putting such a genuine story down on paper. It seems that while everyone does better when their loved, some of us get trapped by the good intentions of others who mean to do nice things for us but never find the time. Hooray for Boy who dug his way into the yard and heart of someone ready to love him wholeheartedly.

Poor Boy. He's stuck in the fenced backyard with nothing to do, nothing to see, and nowhere to go. The Gustin family brought him home on a whim; he was a freebe in a box at the store. But they're too busy, and have no time to pay attention to, or love a dog. So he sits in the yard, sad and lonely, cold in winter and hot in summer. Next door, on the other side of the tall fence is Mr Miller. He's all alone and very sad too. One very hot summer day, Boy began to dig. He was so hot, and the earth as he dug, grew cooler and cooler, that he kept digging deeper and deeper until he'd dug himself right out of the Gustin's yard..... Susan Boase has authored an uplifting story with a gentle message that won't be lost on young readers. The simple, heartfelt text is beautifully enhanced by her engaging and expressive, soft pencil illustrations, and together word and art paint a sweet and tender picture showing how a little love and companionship makes any life happier and more fulfilled. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Lucky Boy is a heartwarming, read-aloud story the entire family can share an enjoy, and definitely one of 2002's best new books. Kudos to Susan Boase on such an outstanding debut!