Stubby

About this book

Published to coincide with the centenary of the end of the First World War, this beautiful book tells the story of Stubby, the most decorated war dog of the First World War. American Corporal Robert Conroy adopts this little stray dog when training in Connecticut and ends up taking him all the way to the Front Line in France.

The story of one soldier and his dog brings home the brutality (and futility) of war and also shines a light on the incredible bravery of those that fought in it. There's peril but no death, and the dog factor means even preschoolers can enjoy having this book read to them. It's certainly a very thrilling read with a happy ending.

Stubby: A True Story of Friendship joins the ranks of Michael Foreman's wonderful fictionalising of true stories that have brought history – particularly the First and Second World Wars –  to life for so many children across the decades. As war veterans disappear, these books provide a profound connection back to our past and important stories that we should never forget.

The storytelling here is as sublime as ever, and the illustrations are profoundly beautiful and stay in your mind long after reading the story. A book to treasure, cosy up and read together, and feel grateful for our relative peace.

Watch Michael read this fantastic book

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