GOBI: A Little Dog with a Big Heart by Dion Leonard & illustrated by Lisa Manuzak

ISBN: 9780718075293
Hardcover $16.99

My thoughts:  This bright, colorful, and interesting children's picture book is based of the real-life story and experiences of Dion Leonard and a little stray dog named Gobi. The story is told in more detail in a middle school reader's book. For youngsters, and young at heart, the story embraces adoption and it's beauty and need in society on many levels.

The illustrations picturing little Gobi the doggy are simply charming and make one wish to cuddle that little critter themselves. And the story begins with this little dog in the desert (China's Gobi Desert) and he hears a noise. Curious, he investigates and sees people running. Like any decent little doggy, he decides to run along with them. And he now has "friends"!

Dion shares his water, pets the little doggy, and finally bestows him with a name..... "Gobi" after the tough desert they are running across. And when the going got really tough, Dion made certain Gobi wasn't left behind.

This is a sweet story of how a caring person adopts and cares for a dog, and one I can recommend because it is a good story and also because it involves a real-life experience.

About the book: Gobi is the charming story of the unlikely friendship between a little dog living all alone in China's Gobi Desert and Dion Leonard, a successful ultramarathon runner.

An unbreakable bond was forged as the scruffy dog ran alongside Dion for 77 miles of a race across the Gobi Desert, in extreme temperatures, over sand dunes, through fast-running rivers, and finally to cross the finish line together. Families will enjoy reading this tail-wagging tale again and again.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from BookLook Reviewers program to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own, alone, and freely given.