THE BARNYARD BUDDIES MEET A NEWCOMER

A farmer and his animals—wary of a stray dog—learn compassion in this picture-book sequel.

Old Blue, a canine left behind by his family, has been wandering and hungry for some time when he comes across a farmyard. Some of the animals worry that he might be dangerous; he could bite or chase chickens. Still, they decide to share their food and hide the dog from Farmer Jim. Their worst fears seem to be justified when Blue runs from Jim; the hens start squawking; and they hear barking—but actually, the canine was chasing off a coyote. Jim thanks Blue but plans to take him to a shelter. Eventually, the farmer realizes that though he doesn’t have much, he has enough to give refuge to such a good dog. Penshorn offers children a way to understand the plight of immigrants and refugees while also conducting a thoughtful debate on the pros and cons of helping them. Sensitive readers may find the dog’s initial suffering hard to take, but these scenes highlight Blue’s innocence and desperation. (The author also provides a two-page Parent and Educator Guide.) Jeanine-Jonee’s illustrations add drama and nicely convey emotions through facial expressions.

A moving parable about welcoming a needy stranger.