QUIGLEY LOPEZ, A FRIEND FOR LIFE

In O’Hare’s illustrated children’s book, a dog who loves her island life must visit a veterinarian on the mainland during the Christmas season.

A pup named Quigley, who resembles a golden retriever, was born in a small town in Colorado, but after she was adopted by her owner, she moved to a small island off Washington state where she’s surrounded by the Salish Sea. To go to the mainland, she and her owner must take a ferry. Quigley loves her toys and people’s shoes, especially those that she can cuddle or chew. Most of all, she loves her owner, whom the text calls “her Person.” (The narrator asserts that dogs can smell when someone loves them.) One Christmas Day, Quigley gets sick; her Person takes her on the ferry and then to a vet’s office. When the pup has to stay there overnight, she’s confused and scared, but after she feels better, she and her Person have a happy reunion. Heikens effectively depicts Quigley, her Person, and the sea in colorful watercolor-style illustrations. O’Hare’s playful narrative features a number of questions, encouraging children to jump in with answers: “Still, Quigley can’t stop thinking: Where is her Person?” The text also takes time to teach readers a bit about where the pup protagonist lives, and features illustrations of maps. Although the overall plot is simple, the stories of Quigley’s playfulness and her vet visit may resonate with young pet owners, especially those who’ve had to leave their animal pals at the doctor’s office overnight. The book may also encourage curiosity about United States geography, as readers may want to find out more about where Quigley was born and where she currently lives.

A sweet, well-illustrated story of a happy dog and her bond with her owner.