A SHELTER IS...

A stray dog makes the long journey from animal shelter to loving home in Wooddall’s picture book.

A single sentence appears on each page, always with the same beginning: “A shelter is…” The story itself opens with the statement “A shelter is hopeful and loving” and continues to unfold as a girl with light skin and dark hair finds a dog in an abandoned lot, coaxes it out, and takes it to her local animal shelter. A section beginning with “A shelter is a home for a little while…” depicts an adoption day event and concludes with “…but a home is forever” as the dog is adopted by a young girl and her parents. From then on, the starting phrase changes to “A home…” The girl is shown taking care of the dog in various ways, including feeding (“A home nourishes”) and snuggling in bed with it (“A home is hope and love”). Choi’s colorful illustrations feature soft lines that convey both a sense of movement and a gentleness that feels exactly right for the story. Clear emotions show on the faces of both the people and animals, complementing Wooddall’s sparse prose. The minimal words still manage to evoke maximum emotional impact through repetition and a knack for poignant restraint (“A home heals”), instilling a love and respect for animals in need.

A sweet, simple tale that lovingly highlights the importance of animal shelters and pet adoption.