ANDY

A service dog takes center stage in Kelly’s story of courage.

The story centers on Andy, the smallest dog of the litter, and the only one of his siblings who hasn’t been adopted. Mischievous but adorable, the puppy finds inspiration in the family’s “Hall of Heroes,” where dogs like him appear to be “bigger,” “stronger,” and “more heroic.” But before he can join their ranks, he must train. Andy’s family prepares him by bringing him into the outside world, where he’s injured by a child on a bicycle. Though his confidence falters, he starts to understand that getting back up makes him “a true hero.” With time, growth, and plenty of food, he gets old enough to attend service dog training school. But after his training, when he’s required to work with someone in a wheelchair, memories of the accident return, and he questions his ability to move forward. After his “person,” Olivia, drops an inhaler, Andy gets a split second to decide whether he’s ready to be a hero. Adapted from a short film of the same name, the story’s prose is endearing and playful, like the protagonist puppy himself. The use of the first-person narrator watching Andy grow up is also a great addition. While the text is packed with this classic charm, the illustrations are overly synthetic, with a hyper-polished, almost AI-rendered quality. Visuals aside, the story serves as a much-needed introduction to the role of service dogs for young readers.

An engaging and very necessary story that shows kids the importance of service dogs.